VANDERBILT NOTES:
STORYLINES CENTER STAGE • Off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2008 and just the second time in 80 years, Vanderbilt will feature on College GameDay for just the second time as well when the Commodores visit Alabama. • Vandy is 1-0 with GameDay on site, earning a 14-13 win over Auburn in 2008. • Saturday’s contest marks the first ranked showdown between Vanderbilt and Alabama since 1937. It’s just the fourth time the Dores have been ranked facing the Tide, going 1-1-1 in the previous meetings. • Vandy has won each of its first five games by 20-plus points for the first time since 1915. • The Commodores are one of five teams nationally and four in the Power 4 ranked in the top 20 nationally in rushing offense and defense (BYU, Indiana, James Madison, Missouri). FULL STEAM AHEAD • Vanderbilt’s offense has produced at an historic level to open the season, sitting fourth nationally in scoring offense at 49.0 points per game through five contests. The mark is Vanderbilt’s best scoring average in its first five games since 1915. • In program history, the Commodores have only finished three seasons with a scoring average better than 40 points: 1904, 1905 and 1915. • Vanderbilt’s offense ranks in the top 20 nationally in eight major categories and 31st or better in every offensive statistic. The Dores lead the SEC in passing efficiency and rank second in four additional categories. • With 70 and 55 points in its last two contests, Vanderbilt produced back-to-back games with 50-plus points for the first time since 1915.
CONTROLLING THE SEAS • Historic offense, meet great defense. Vanderbilt’s defense ranks 21st nationally, holding opponents to just 278.8 yards per game through five contests in 2025. • The Commodores have been particularly adept at plundering opponents with nine takeaways on the season. With a forced fumble vs. Utah State in Week 5, Vandy created a turnover for a seventh consecutive contest. • Vanderbilt has recovered a fumble in each of those seven games and is one of five teams tied for the national lead with six fumble recoveries this season. • The Commodore defense surrendered just 135 total yards to Charleston Southern in the season opener. • The 135 yards were the eighth-lowest total allowed in the past 30 seasons by Vandy. It was also the second-lowest output by an opposing offense in the season opener. • The Dores followed by holding Virginia Tech to just 248 total yards, including a stifling 21-yard second half, in the Week 2 win. • In the Week 3 win at South Carolina, Vandy forced four turnovers, the most in a game since Oct. 10, 2022 vs. Missouri. POLL PLACEMENT • Vanderbilt’s climb in the polls continued after its fifth-straight win, coming in at No. 16 in the AP poll and No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches poll. • The No. 16 mark in the AP poll is Vanderbilt’s highest ranking since 2008 when the Dores reached No. 13. • It’s the second consecutive season the Dores have appeared in the polls, marking the first occurence since 2012 and 2013. It is just the second time Vanderbilt has reached the top 25 in consecutive seasons since 1956 and only the sixth occurence in the AP poll’s 90-year history. • Week 5 marks the third consecutive appearance in the AP poll this season. Vandy has never been ranked for more than four weeks in a single season, occurring three times: 2008, 1941 and 1937.
GAME NOTES DOMINANT DIEGO • Diego Pavia enters Week 6 sitting fifth in the country and first in the SEC with 13 passing touchdowns. He ranks sixth nationally in points responsible for with 90, eighth in passing efficiency (184.6), 13th in yards per pass attempt at 9.61 and 14th in total offense with 301 yards of production per game. • Pavia matched the Vanderbilt school record with five touchdown passes vs. Utah State, finishing 26-of-34 for 321 yards. He added 79 rushing yards and another score to become the only Commodore to account for six touchdowns against an FBS opponent since 1996. • Entering Week 6, Pavia has 7,927 career passing yards to his credit. He is also closing in on the top 10 in career passing at Vanderbilt with his 3,504 yards as a Commodore, needing 10 yards to reach John Gromos in 10th all-time. • With 236 passing and 322 all-purpose yards in the first half vs. Georgia State in Week 4, Pavia eclipsed 3,000 passing and 4,000 yards of total offense at Vanderbilt. • Pavia tossed two touchdowns in Vandy’s win at South Carolina, becoming the first Vanderbilt quarterback to throw for multiple touchdowns in four-straight games since Jordan Rodgers in 2012. • Pavia accounted for 1,105 yards of offense through the first four games, going 68-of-92 through the air for 890 yards while adding 215 yards on 39 carries to go over 10,000 total yards for his NCAA FBS career. • In Vandy’s season-opening win over Charleston Southern, Pavia completed 20-of-25 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. The 80 percent completion rate was a career best for Pavia when completing 20 or more passes and tied for the second best performance in any game of his career. • The three passing touchdowns and 275 passing yards against the Bucs both matched Vanderbilt highs for Pavia. • Pavia’s 20 passing touchdowns in 2024 ranked sixth in the SEC. The 20 touchdowns were fifth-most by a Commodore in a season. • In 2024, Pavia ran for a Vanderbilt QB record 801 yards. That total was the highest by a Power 4 quarterback last season and seventh-most among non-service academy quarterbacks in all of FBS. • For his career, Pavia capped 2024 second among active FBS quarterbacks with 2,232 rushing yards, trailing only Army’s Bryson Daily. In addition, his 6,716 career passing yards ranked 12th among active quarterbacks heading into 2025. • He was named one of 16 semifinalists for the 88th Maxwell Award, as well as one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award. • His performance in the win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5 landed him SEC Offensive Player of the Week. He was also named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and the Maxwell Award Player of the Week. • He became the 13th quarterback since 2004 to defeat Alabama and Auburn in the same season and just the fourth do to so without playing in the SEC West (Stetson Bennett, Deshaun Watson, Matthew Stafford). He is the seventh quarterback in that same time frame to have at least three career wins over the Tigers and Tide, joining Jayden Daniels, Bennett, Joe Burrow, Jarrett Lee, Jordan Jefferson, Stafford and JaMarcus Russell. • Pavia piloted a deadly efficient offense in 2023 while leading New Mexico State to 10 wins. He ranked among the top 35 in FBS in passing touchdowns, points, passing yards per attempt and passing efficiency.
BACKFIELD CAPERS • Graduate edge Miles Capers is wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, leading the SEC and ranking 11th in the country with 1.5 tackles for loss per game this season. • Capers’ 7.5 TFL are just 0.5 shy of his career-best eight from the 2024 season. He had 11.5 career TFL entering the season. • His 3.5 sacks through five games have also eclipsed his previous season high of three from 2024. • Capers has recorded multiple tackles in every game this season and 12-straight contests dating back to October 2024. • He has made 2.5 tackles for loss in three games this season, including each of the past two contests entering the showdown with Alabama. SHERRILL STRIKES • Junior Sherrill notched three touchdowns and 91 yards on six catches in the Week 5 victory over Utah State, all career highs for the junior wideout. All three touchdown grabs came in the first half, making Sherrill the first Commodore with three TD catches in a half since Earl Bennett in 2005. • Sherrill leads the Dores with five touchdown receptions on the season and his six total scores are second on the team behind Sedrick Alexander. His five TD grabs rank sixth nationally and second in the SEC. • The wideout needs just 71 yards to reach 1,000 career receiving yards, sitting at 929 entering Week 6. • He registered the first rushing score of his career with an 8-yard touchdown run in the win over Georgia State. • Sherrill is third on the team with 17 catches while averaging 13.2 yards per reception in 2025. • Sherill finished his rookie year with 20 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns while playing in all 12 contests. He surpassed all three totals in 10 games last season. • The Nashvillian has made at least one catch in 28 straight games. • Sherrill received the opening kickoff vs. Tennessee and returned it 100 yards to the house for Vandy’s longest kickoff return for a touchdown since 2014. • He had a personal-best five catches for 62 yards and a receiving touchdown vs. No. 5/6 Texas on Oct. 26, 2024. • Sherrill was rated the No. 8 freshman wide receiver in the nation by Pro Football Focus in 2023. SEDRICK THE ENTERTAINER • Running back Sedrick Alexander picked up right where he left off in 2024, scoring in each of the first four games of the season. • The back leads the team with four rushing, and seven total touchdowns. Alexander ranks ninth in the nation in total touchdowns. • With a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter vs. Georgia State, Alexander extended his four-game scoring streak, which was the longest of his career. He also hauled in a 10-yard touchdown catch to post a rushing and receiving touchdown in back-to-back games. • Alexander racked up 67 all-purpose yards and snagged his second receiving touchdown of the season in the win at South Carolina. The TD grab came on an 18-yard catch and run to open the scoring. • Alexander went for 83 yards on 12 carries in the season-opening win against Charleston Southern. The 83 yards propelled Alexander past the 1,000-yard mark for his career. Alexander also added 26 yards receiving to top 100 all-purpose yards for the first time in his collegiate career. • Alexander followed with a 73-yard, two-touchdown performance on just 10 carries in the win at Virginia Tech. The two touchdowns matched a career high for the junior. The opening two games also marked the first time in his career Alexander rushed for 70-plus yards in back-to-back contests. • Last season, he tallied a career-high 21 carries in the win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5, matching his career best with two rushing touchdowns, and was included on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention List for the week. • He finished his sophomore campaign as the team’s second-leading rusher, trailing only Diego Pavia, with 586 yards and six touchdowns. He became the 26th Vandy running back to eclipse 500 rushing yards in a season since 1996 and his total was second among all SEC sophomores. • The Texan played in all 12 games as a freshman, logging 504 all-purpose yards, 371 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. • He led SEC freshmen in rushing yards and touchdowns and was named to the league’s All-Freshman team. • Alexander was named to the Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List entering 2025.
ALABAMA NOTES:
INSIDE THE SERIES Overall: 87th Meeting (Alabama leads, 63-19-4 (61-20-4 NCAA)) In Tuscaloosa: 19th Meeting (Alabama leads, 17-1 (16-1 NCAA)) Current Streak: Alabama, Lost 1 Last Meeting: Oct. 5, 2024 (L, 35-40) Series Notes: Alabama and Vanderbilt will square off for the 87th time when the two teams meet on Saturday afternoon inside Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide holds a 63-19-4 (61-20-4 NCAA) all-time series advantage, including a 17-1 mark in Tuscaloosa and a 32-6-2 record as the home team. The Tide is currently riding an 11-game home winning streak over Vandy. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is 0-1 against the Commodores. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea is 1-1 all-time against the Crimson Tide.
STREAKING AT HOME: Alabama is currently riding a 14-game home winning streak dating back to the Tide’s Sept. 23 win over Ole Miss during the 2023 season. The Crimson Tide’s last loss inside Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium came on Sept. 9 of that ‘23 campaign when UA fell to 11th-ranked Texas, 34-24. Alabama’s 14-game home winning streak is tied for the third-longest active home winning streak in Division I.
BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 84-23 (.785) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. That record includes Alabama’s 24-21 win at then-No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27. The Tide had three ranked wins in 2024, including Alabama’s 42-13 win over then-No. 14 LSU on Nov. 9, a 34-0 win over then-No. 21 Missouri on Oct. 26 and a 41-34 win over then-No. 2 Georgia on Sept. 28. Since 2007, Alabama has 27 wins over AP top-five teams, the most in the country. LSU has produced the next-closest win total with 13. DEBOER AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is 16-3 across 19 career matchups with teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including an impressive 6-1 mark against top-10 teams. DeBoer owns a 4-1 record against AP Top 25 opponents since beginning his tenure with Alabama in 2024, including the Tide’s 24-21 win at then-No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27 as well as last season’s 42-13 win over then-No. 14 LSU on Nov. 9, a 34-0 win over then-No. 21 Missouri on Oct. 26 and a 41-34 win over then-No. 2 Georgia on Sept. 28. DeBoer’s first career matchup against a top-25 foe at the FBS level came at Fresno State on Sept. 4, 2021, with the Bulldogs falling at No. 11 Oregon. Following the loss to the Ducks, DeBoer-led teams at Fresno and Washington proceeded to reel off 12 straight wins against ranked foes, including six victories in 2023. The winning streak was snapped following Washington’s 34-13 loss to top-ranked Michigan in the 2025 CFP National Championship Game.
ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: Alabama’s No. 10 ranking in the Week 6 edition of the Associated Press Poll marked the 284th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 284 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 138 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 284 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 105 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid-1990s. ALABAMA IN THE AP SINCE 2008: Alabama began the 2008 season at No. 24 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide opened the year with a dominant 34-10 win over then-No. 9 Clemson in Atlanta, and since that win over the Tigers, UA has not exited the 283 polls that have followed. According to the College Poll Archive, the Tide is the only team to be represented on all 284 editions of the poll from the start of the 2008 season to the current week. The next closest team is Ohio State with 269 appearances followed by Oklahoma at 250. Alabama has spent 91.5 percent of the 18-plus years ranked in the top 10. A whopping 77.5 percent of that time Alabama has been ranked in the top five. The Crimson Tide has also been ranked No. 1 a total of 110 times since 2008. Only 14 other teams have earned the No. 1 ranking over that time, with the second-most appearances coming from Georgia at 40 and Clemson in third at 23.
ALWAYS IN THE HUNT: Since the 2008 season, Alabama has played in 200 of 206 regular season games that have had national championship implications. The final three games of the 2010 campaign and the final three weeks of the 2022 schedule marked the only six regular season contests without direct national championship implications over the last 17 seasons. ALABAMA REACHES 1K: With the Oct. 26, 2024 victory over then-No. 21/17 Missouri, Alabama reached 1,000 on-field wins. The Crimson Tide became only the second program in NCAA Division I history to record 1,000 wins (1,003), joining Michigan (1,012). Entering the 2025 season, the Tide’s record, as recognized by the NCAA, stands at 974-341-43 (.733), accounting for vacated and forfeited victories.
MR. RELIABLE: Germie Bernard was one of the most consistent wideouts in college football a season ago and has maintained his form through four games in 2025. After leading all Tide receivers in receptions (50) and finishing second in receiving yards (794) last season, Bernard currently paces UA wideouts in receptions (20), receiving yards (310) and receiving touchdowns (4). The senior’s 310 receiving yards are 13thmost in the SEC and are 63rd among all Division I receivers. Bernard’s 77.5 receiving yards per game is the sixth-highest average among SEC wideouts while placing him 39th among all Division I receivers. A SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Josh Cuevas earned a more prominent role at tight end for the Crimson Tide in 2025 and has delivered in more ways than one. Cuevas has totaled 10 catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns in four games so far this season. Cuevas has also shown his mettle as a pass protector, managing a 78.1 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, the second-highest pass blocking grade among Division I tight ends. NO BETTER CENTER: Alabama center Parker Brailsford continues to showcase his talent in the middle of the Tide’s offensive line. Through four games, Brailsford has protected for 157 dropbacks according to Pro Football Focus, allowing just one quarterback hurry and zero sacks or quarterback hits in that span. Brailsford is responsible for an 84.4 pass blocking grade from PFF, the eighth-highest grade among centers in Division I. 400+ YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE: Alabama has gained 400-plus yards of total offense in 75 of its last 100 games, dating back to the start of the 2018 season. The Crimson Tide produced 400-plus yards of offense for the second time this season against Wisconsin on Sept. 13, amassing 454 yards of total offense. Alabama also finished with 583 total yards against ULM on Sept. 6. In the 25 instances where the offense did not go over 400 yards, Alabama is 17-8. 500+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: With 583 yards of offense in the 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6, Alabama has eclipsed 500 yards of offense in 61 games since the start of the 2015 season. The 61 instances include three games in 2024 when UA went for 500- plus against Western Kentucky (600), Georgia (547) and Mercer (508). The Crimson Tide accumulated 500-plus twice in 2023 along with seven times apiece in both 2022 and 2021. Additionally, the Tide went for 500-or-better eight times in 2020 and nine times in 2019, with the 2018 roster setting the Alabama single-season record with 500-or-more yards in 12 contests. 600+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: Alabama totaled 600 yards of offense in the 63-0 win over Western Kentucky to open the 2024 campaign. The 600-plus yard performance marked the 15th instance in program history that the Tide has been at or above 600 yards.
TAKING CARE OF THE FOOTBALL: Over its first four contests, the Alabama offense has not surrendered a turnover, joining UConn and Temple as one of just three teams entering Week 6 yet to record a giveaway. Of those three, the Tide’s plus-seven turnover margin is the highest in the group. THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: The Alabama offense has been among the most successful units in converting third downs so far in 2025. Through four games, the Tide has converted 30-of-55 (54.5 percent) third down tries, the fourth-best mark in the SEC and the 13th-best rate in the FBS. The Crimson Tide converted 13-of-19 third down opportunities in its 24-21 win at then-No. 5/3 Georgia on Sept. 27, the most third down conversions allowed by UGA in the last 30 seasons.
DEFENSIVE NOTES HUBBARD NAMED SEC DEFENSIVE POTW: Bray Hubbard was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15 following his standout performance against Wisconsin on Sept. 13. Hubbard collected five total tackles and two interceptions against the Badgers, helping limit Wisconsin to just one offensive score and only 209 yards of total offense. The league honor was the first of Hubbard’s Alabama career. Hubbard was also named the Panini Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week as well as the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week for his efforts against Wisconsin. THIS IS THE BRAY: Bray Hubbard has been a force for the Tide defense through four games so far in 2025. The junior safety owns 22 total tackles, including one and a half for loss for loss (-3 yards), to go with two interceptions, one forced fumble, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup. Hubbard’s 22 tackles are second-most among all Alabama defenders, while he is responsible for three of the Tide’s seven takeaways. JJ ALL THE WAY: Linebacker Justin Jefferson has taken on an elevated role at the second level of the Crimson Tide defense in 2025. Jefferson enters the matchup with No. 16 Vanderbilt with 21 total tackles, a half tackle for loss (-1 yard), one interception, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry in his first four games. Jefferson has succeeded mightily in coverage, owning an 86.8 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, the fifth-ranked coverage grade among all linebackers in Division I. ON THE MARGINS: Alabama has created seven turnovers over its first four games, including four fumbles and three interceptions. As a result, UA is one only five Division I programs responsible for at least a plus-seven turnover margin so far in 2025. More specifically, Alabama’s 1.75 turnovers per game mark is tied with Maryland for the top figure in the nation. MAKING IT TOUGH: The Tide defense has been difficult to maneuver over its first four outings, allowing just 274.0 total yards per game to begin the 2025 season. The 274.0 total yards allowed stands as the fourth-best mark in the conference and the 19th-best figure in the country. YOU SHALL NOT PASS: The Crimson Tide has been stout in its pass defense through four games so far this season. Alabama has allowed an average of just 113.5 passing yards over its first four contests, the best figure in the SEC and the second-best mark in the NCAA. GETTING OFF THE FIELD: Alabama has surrendered just 60 first down conversions through four games, the fifth-fewest allowed in the SEC and the 18th-fewest among all Division I defenses. BACKFIELD BARRAGE: The Alabama defense tallied 12.0 tackles for loss (-31 yards) in the Tide’s 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. The 12.0 tackles for loss were the most by a UA defense since Nov. 27, 2021, when Alabama recorded 15.0 tackles for loss (-70 yards) at Auburn in a four-overtime affair. The Tide’s 12.0 tackles for loss against the Warhawks are the most recorded in regulation since Nov. 13, 2021 against New Mexico State when Alabama matched the total with 12.0 tackles for loss (-44 yards).
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 126 of the last 143 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 229 turnovers (145 interceptions, 84 fumbles) and returned 43 of those miscues for touchdowns. SHUTOUTS SINCE 2007: Since 2007, Alabama has recorded 29 shutouts, including 13 in Southeastern Conference play. The Crimson Tide most recently kept ULM off the scoreboard in its 73-0 win on Sept. 6, the largest margin of victory in a shutout in program history, surpassing the previous best margin of 66-0 against Cal on Sept. 15, 1973. Alabama produced two shutouts in 2024, including a 34-0 win over then-No. 21/17 Missouri on Oct. 26 and a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky on Aug. 31. The Crimson Tide defense has 13 more shutouts than its nearest competitor, with Ohio State’s 16 shutouts the next-closest total in that span. HARD TO FIND THE END ZONE AGAINST THE TIDE: Since the start of the 2009 season, no team has allowed fewer touchdowns than the Crimson Tide. Alabama has surrendered only 402 touchdowns over the last 225 games. That is 48 fewer than second-place Iowa (450).
