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- [00:00]
Host
The 2026 season is just around the corner for the Vanderbilt Commodores. How do Clark Lee and company follow up the best season in school history? As you might recall, Vanderbilt won double digigit games a season ago. You could make a strong argument they should have been in the College Football Playoff. Their starting quarterback was in the Heisman Trophy ceremony as well. It was simply put, an incredible season in Nashville. But now life after Diego Pavia officially begins. Eli Stowers is no longer there. Now the question is now what for the Vanderbilt Commodore's football program? Cole, before we dive into what this team looks like this season and the optics of this season. Cole, can we first take a moment to look back on what was 2025 because what a magical run down on the west end. It was a 10, 3 overall record, a 10 win regular season, the best regular season in program. Vanderbilt went 6 and 2 in SEC play. Again, Diego Pavia, Cole, he was mocked, he was laughed at, he was belittled. Last summer you might recall when he said our goal is to win the national championship. Well Cole, they, they really weren't that far off from that goal when you think about it, a 10 win regular season. You can make the argument they should have been in the College Football Playoff. Unfortunately on the outside looking in. But Diego Pavia goes to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony and really his impact along with so many others, put Vanderbilt football on the map nationally. And a season in which I don't know that any of us, just a few short years ago, Cole could have ever imagined was possible. Clark Lee wins the SEC Head Coach of the Year award. By the way, well deserved. Cole, just your thoughts looking back on the 2025 season, one we surely soon will not forget.
- [01:56]
Cole
Yeah, I, I think that we have to go ahead and remind ourselves it's freaking Vanderbilt. Like this is not just like oh yeah, it's cool. South Carolina doing what it did in 2012. This is Vanderbilt. We have conversations week in and week out among SEC teams and go cool the doormat of the SEC easy chalk up win. They ended up winning 10 games. And what was so impressive is that they had the belief going into the year and they carried it throughout every single game. And while some games were a lot closer than others, they at least were able to be competitive and they were able to find a way to respond. Like I remember the LSU win and people were saying, well you know, LSU really wasn't that good last season, still had to find a way to win Missouri. Missouri was a throw away from getting back in that game and they end up still winning that one. You talk about the game against Auburn, the overtime victory, not allowing yourself to come up short. I mean, it just felt like every single time that there was a moment to doubt Vanderbilt and they were going to come back down to reality. Here's a reason why to believe in them once again and everything that you said is warranted. I don't think that anybody would doubt that Clark Lee was the most deserving coach in probably the last four to five years to an SEC coach of the year. You won the football games because of who you had at quarterback and how he was able to keep plays alive, which is why he went to the Big Apple. And maybe he should have won the Heisman in some people's eyes. I understand if he didn't win it, but he came in second place and the fact that they were willing to go above and beyond and say we'll play that random game on a Sunday for that final College Football playoff spot. And honestly the one thing I will say is while the logistics were never going to come true with it, dude, Clark Lee would have had those boys lined up and getting on a bus somewhere to go play that game if it meant we get to go keep our season alive for an opportunity to win a national title. Like he would have 1000% done that. I think it speaks volume of how much the way our perspective has changed on Vanderbilt. And even though this is going to be a big question mark here because of how many new pieces they have, brand new starting quarterback, what they lost in the portal of names that got paid because of what they did at Vanderbilt, there's a new aura about what are the expectations when we talk about the Commodores. And I think what's going to be really intriguing this year is seeing how quickly they can all gel together to where maybe once again we're doubting them and we all have egg on our face by the time that we get to the middle of October.
- [04:21]
Host
Cole, you mentioned Clark Lee. It's hard to believe that two years ago this time you might recall Cole, he was on the hot seat. I mean there were talks about Vanderbilt moving a different direction and if things did not go well in the 2024 season, then potentially making a move. I think Vanderbilt was coming off, if I recall recruiting correctly, a 2 and 10 season, things were looking bleak. Then you bring in Tim back and you bring in a guy named Diego Pavia and who would have known the, the, the topsy turvy ride you were about to go on and the, the surge and the rise in your program that you were about to experience. Now he enters this sixth season, Cole, and you know, the mood has. Has much changed. Right? Again, SEC coach of the year last year. Well deserved for guiding that team and building that team and building that roster. And we heard him at SEC media is Cole. And I think the thing, and I mentioned this before, that, you know, you have to love about Clark Lee. He sees Vanderbilt for what it can be, not what it's always been. You know, I think the first time he said it, people. People laughed, they mocked, they belittled. But like when he stands up there and says, our goal is to build the best program in college football, he says it with a conviction where he genuinely believes that, like, that is genuinely his thought and genuinely his belief that we are going to build Vanderbilt football into the very best program in the country. And I respect the heck out of it. I mean, I really do. Because it takes that type of a. Hear me out when I say this. It takes that type of a delusional belief, right. To achieve anything of. Outside of the norm. Right? I mean, to, to imagine just a few years ago that after going 2 and 10, that Vanderbilt could go 10 and 2 in the regular season against that SEC schedule, right. To think they could be the number one Alabama, just a few short years ago to believe they could do such things, right? It took a level of thinking and belief beyond normal comprehension. And that is where Clark Lee comes in. So I, I give him. I know Diego Pavia gets all the credit and we're going to talk about it. And you know, what. What's the. What do the doors look like post Diego? But I think it starts with Clark Lee. Cole. You got to give him all the credit in the world for really bringing a program up out of the ashes. And it's not like we're talking about some sleepy giant, Cole, where there's some, you know, there's. There's historical. The proofs in the pudding. Historically, where it's like, okay, well, we know it can be done, but we just got to get this thing back on track. No, he's trying to do things that have never been accomplished, and he has done things that have never been accomplished. So the rise under Clark Lee has been wildly impressive. And I think the only question long term, Cole, you know, certainly you got to answer the bell this year. You're only as good as your last game or your last season. And we understand how this game works and how this thing works.
- [07:14]
Cole
It's a.
- [07:14]
Host
What have you done for me lately? Business. But Clark Lee is the answer. Long term. The only question, Cole, I think in Nashville is, does he stick around for the entirety of his career? If another big job comes calling, will they be able to keep him home?
- [07:30]
Cole
Well, what's the big job that would pull you away is, I think, a bigger question because of Clarkley has made it abundant on multiple occasions. Dude, I love Nashville. I love my program. I'm a vanity. Like, look, I get it. You got to say the things that will go ahead and get the rally cries and the boosters to go buy on in about. We will be the best program in college football. I honestly think that he believes that he can do that because the way that he coaches and the way that he develops talent and the way that he goes about searching for players in the portal. But that's also where you look and you say, as much as Diego Pavia played such an impact on changing the narrative around Commodore football, it starts with the guy who's not leaving, whether it be because of eligibility purposes or the transfer portal. It's the guy who's not leaving and brought all these pieces in and was humble enough to change his own approach about how to do things as a head coach. Because if he realized, I'm going to do what's best for the program and that's ultimately what you want in a leader. And I think that's what people will follow this year, is there's a standard set by the person who was willing and humble enough to realize, I may be a Vanderbilt guy, but I might have to go outside of the Vanderbilt norm to get to results that will make Vanderbilt proud. That's where we are going into this year. And so when you go through practice, if Clarkley doesn't appreciate it or Clarkley is not satisfied with it, you better work 10 times harder. If you're in the middle of a workout and Clark Lee is razzing your ass. I hate to be the bearer of bad news. Work harder. Because if Clark Lee has proven at this point I know what it takes to win at a program like Vanderbilt and not just win like, oh, go to a bowl game. I mean, beat good teams with better talent, with more resources and. And looked like if you just took off the logo, I was the better team on paper, that that's what I know how to do. I think that's going to be the standard moving forward. But there is a lot of uncertainty and a lot of new this year, which is why I think that on one hand, you have to have realistic expectations for Vanderbilt. You have to have realistic goals set in motion for a team that we don't know a lot about. But on the other hand, if you are a Vanderbilt fan who is saying no, we expect eight and four, we expect nine and three, I, I don't blame you because if you have the guy who has been able to prove, yeah, this is going to be our new norm when we continue to move forward in the process.
- [09:52]
Host
Cole that being said, let's take a look at the 2026 Commodore starting on the offensive side of the football because I would argue this is where the most questions lie because of who know who's no longer there anymore. Of course Tim Beck is back at oc, but Cole, the big question is this. What does life look like post Diego Pavia? Because I give Clark Lee all the credit in the world for building this thing. But let's face it, Cole, Diego Pavia was the heart and soul of Vanderbilt football for the last two years. I mean he was the guy not just from what he did at the quarterback position, which was impressive in its own right, but from a leadership perspective. The the swag, the moxie, the you talk about that delusional belief in yourself. Diego Pavia had it and has it still to this day on a winner, a guy that again put this program on his shoulders, it felt like at times and willed them to victory. So it's not just a talent thing. Cole all that's factored in as well. Jared Curtis and Bl Bla Berlowitz as we talked about before. Cole, they will battle for the QB1 spot. Junior Cheryl returns as your top wide receiver. You did add Ja Corey Thomas from Old Dominion and Cole Adams from Alabama. Via the Portal, it's Cole Spence. Cole that looks to fill the shoes of the departed Eli Stowers at tight end. That might be one of the most underrated departures in the SEC because we talk so much about Diego. But man, Eli Stowers was just unstoppable at the tight end position. So Cole Spence, you also added Jayvonte Connor from East Carolina, Cedric Alexander back at RB1. It feels like he's been there forever, but a well tenured veteran there at the running back position. Questions come up front. Cole one starters back on the offensive line and Cade McConnell. You did pick up Bo Johnson from North Dakota State, Lyndon Cooper from Pitt and Micah debose from Alabama to boost the group. So Cole, your thoughts on the offensive side for Vanderbilt? Again, questions up front, questions at tight end. But the big question is this goal, who in the world is going to fill the shoes of Diego Pavia? And is it even possible to fill those shoes?
- [12:01]
Cole
Well, at quarterback it's very easy. You just say we're gonna go with the guy who is now coming on in as a five star phenom, and that's Jared Curtis. It's more the impactful, hey, X Factor Persona mentality. That's, that's where it's going to be. The. Do you have the dude that can carry himself with that type of swagger that's going to be able to step into the face of any player in the country and kind of slap at them as he runs past them? That's, that's going to be a lot harder to replace. Maybe it's not just one guy. Maybe it's multiple players. Like guys. Like a guy, say Cole Adams, who comes on in from Alabama, has been a part of a winning program. Maybe he carries himself with that swagger. Not good enough to be viewed as the next big name in Tuscaloosa, but I can be a difference maker for, for a guy like, you know, in a place like Nashville, I think Bo Johnson's a really interesting fit. This is a guy that started for a year and a half at North Dakota State. North Dakota State is the FCS pinnacle of consistency year in and year out. They ranked number one in the FCS playoffs. They've won national titles. He's got two years of eligibility. Maybe he comes on in and he gets to be that guy who you believe is going to be that difference maker from the jump. I think that when you look at guys like that, you bring on that you brought on in, like Jacori Thomas from Old Dominion. Maybe he could be a special player that you can pair alongside with Junior Cheryl. Junior Cheryl. You know what I think is interesting is that we don't spend enough time talking about him in the grand scheme of wide receivers, but he led Vanderbilt in receptions last year. Outside of Eli Sauers, like he was the number one receiver in targets. But Trey Richardson was the one who was getting the more explosive plays. So can he step on up and take on that mantle about being more of a vertical threat downfield? Offensive line is going to be a big question, mainly because of it's a bunch of new and it's the same type of new that I feel with Texas A and M. The problem is, is that when you look at, when you look at Texas amm, they're getting a bunch of guys with experience in the SEC where you're getting guys who have experiences at major programs but it's experiences working as a second team unit. So how do you now gel together and put them into a first team unit outside of a Bo Johnson But I I think this offense will take a little bit of time to gel. I do think that by the time we get to mid October, the version of what we want to see for Tim Beck squad is looking more and more productive and more like a team to where maybe they shoot themselves in the foot early but there'll be enough games they can keep themselves involved into where it will come down to the wire.
- [14:29]
Host
Cole, I I say this with love and respect because as you know living in Nashville, I have a soft spot for the Doors. Love my guys over at lot too. So what I'm about to say is is certainly not personal in any way but I want people to know it's, it's not meant as a shot as anyway either. But I know getting Jared Curtis is exciting. Vanderbilt's not used to beating out Georgia for much of anything, much less prize quarterback prospects. Right? So getting Jared Curtis over to Georgia really exciting. Do I think because you and I both agree and we believe it is going to be Jared Curtis as QB1 for the Doors, do I think Jared Curtis is a more talented football player than Diego Pavia? Yes, I do. With that being said though, I have been somewhat surprised and darn near amazed at how many people in the Vanderbilt fan base Cole are not are making so little of the loss of Diego Pavia. Like I, I think it is, it is significant. Like it's, it's like, it's like Kaylin aboard trying to follow up Nick Saban at Alabama type levels where I I just like you do not lose a guy like that Cole, in my opinion and not take a step back. And and I'd love to be proven wrong. Maybe Jared Curtis truly is the next big thing and we're like man, his talent is just so superb to anything Diego ever did. But like you mentioned, it was beyond just the talent. I mean I, you know, you and I both but like I saw Diego Pavi in person last year against lsu make plays that just they took something beyond talent. The dude was a gamer. Like love him or hate him, when the lights came on he made plays like he was their version of Johnny Manziel. He'd run around around back there for 10 seconds and scramble around in a big guy and then he hit a dude wide open and they'd score a touch. Like it was just things. It was hard to Comprehend at times what he was able to do in the running game with his legs. Like, you know, he was the big risk taker. He was big risk, big reward. Like you know what he meant from a leadership perspective. And it was infectious the way that he believed in Vanderbilt. He, he believed they were going to compete for a national title. He, he what he meant from a leadership perspective for that program. There's so much to replace just beyond the talent, you know, or like it just. These are massive shoes to fill. And I'm not saying Jared Curtis cannot be wildly successful, but I have been surprised how, how many Vanderbilt folks are making light of the fact that like, oh, it's no big deal. We'll just replace him with this star price freshman. Like I do think there's going to be some growing pains with it. Also Cole, let's say Jared Curtis is the guy we all think he's going to be. Freshman quarterback, new look, offensive line. Yeah, that is not typically a recipe for success in the sec. The good news is again you're, I say you're easing into the season. Two non conference games, then that are going to be wins. Then you've got NC State, good non conference test. Still not SEC play, Then you get into SEC competition. I, I just, I am excited to see. I think this will be a great test for Tim Beck, for Clark Lee. What does the offense look like this year? I like Seti at the running back position. I like Junior Cheryl. You're right. I think he was sixth or seventh and receiving yards last year. He's extremely underrated. Losing Eli Stowers is massive. But I do think Cole Spence can be a nice player. I just, Man, I don't see a world where this offense doesn't take a step back. Because I think Diego Pavia, I mean, Cole, we talked about it last year. You could argue there wasn't a player more important to his team and all of college football than what Diego Pavia meant. So you're telling me you're gonna lose that guy and you're gonna replace him with a true freshman and you're just gonna pick it up right where you left off? Cole, I call. I just. There's no way, at least in the early going, who knows, maybe by mid season this kid's hit his full stride. We're like, holy smokes. Now I understand, you know, why he was so hyped up, why Georgia wanted him so badly, but I just, I gotta see it before I can believe it, man. So it, it's, it's gonna be Different. It doesn't mean different is bad. But there are major, major holes to fill from the standpoint of you are replacing a player that again, I would argue Cole, there was no one more important their team in all the college football.
- [19:09]
Cole
Let's just go with this and I'll make it brief. There were moments to where you just put the ball in Diego Pavia's hands and you said go make a play and he did that. This will where I think you will need to see a Jaor Jacobe Thomas. You will need to see a. You'll need to see a Cole Adams, a Cole Spence, a junior Cheryl, a Bryson Coleman, a Cedric Alexander. They're gonna have to make life a little easy for their quarterback. Doesn't mean that there won't be a moment to where you realize everything has come together and Jared Curtis has all the intangibles you want that he is now taking over games. But I would say early on you're trusting your supporting cast more than the leading man. The leading man is eventually going to get there. I need the role players to show up and why they can be role players.
- [19:57]
Host
Somebody in the comments Cole comparing him. By the way Turkey slammer. We appreciate you tuning in while you're cleaning. Good on you. He says. I think into your Curtis will be good. He's been compared to Matthew Stafford. Well, what did Matthew Stafford have early in his career Goal. He had no Sean Moreno. And by the way, they, they, they were good. They weren't great. You are right. What does a Cedric Alexander do? How did the pieces of the offensive line come together? Can junior Cheryl, Cole Spence, some of the other portal guys, can they play massive roles? That is going to be a big part of his early success. As we know there's a lot of pieces beyond just the quarterback position. But again, I just think Diego Pavia, to your point did so much he put on the Superman cape. So you know asking a true freshman to do that maybe a little much. We'll see on the other side. Cole, let's get to defense. Steve Gregory back at defensive coordinators. We know this is Clark Lee's bread and butter. Miles Capers and Glenn Seabrooks III they anchor the front. Cole, they added Brian Allen Jr. From Iowa to help the pass rush as well. I know pass rush is a big question. The guys they have returning total just five sacks a season ago. Getting after the quarterback. We know the importance of that in the sec. Cole. Linebackers are an old experienced group. Brian Longwell is back as the anchor or one of the Anchors of the defense, Nick Renaldi, Bryce Cowan, Jameson Curtis, they're all going to contribute. They're all juniors and seniors. So you feel pretty good about the guys in the linebacker rotation there. Martell Height and CJ Herd are back in the secondary. You added Ricardo Jones from Clemson at the safety spot goal. He led the ACC with six interceptions a season ago. I mean, that's more than heck, some SEC schools had entirely as a secondary last season. So really impressive there. Cole, your thoughts on the defensive side? Again, this is Clark Lee's bread and butter. And while we spent so much time talking about Diego Pavi the last two years, it was the rise of the Commodore's defense, I think as well that led to the big season. They had certainly a season to go.
- [21:57]
Cole
Yeah, I think that the defense will once again be a reason why you can feel competitive and keep yourself in every single game. I like that they have experience at every single spot. They got experience in the defensive line, they got experience in the backer spot, they got experience in the secondary, and they also went out and they brought in guys who have experience playing at the highest level against quality competition. So it'll be clean in that standpoint. I just wonder with the newcomers, how much have they been able to adapt, seeing more reps? I think it is a big thing because the one thing that you wonder about all the time is when you are replacing a veteran at cornerback or you're losing a guy to the portal on your defense at your defensive tackle spot. Do we have a dude that currently is a part of the system that we feel like, oh, he can easily come on in and be replaced and that we're not going to be missed a beat. That's. That's really where you are. But again, from the evaluation of defensive talent, Clarkly knows what he looks for. Clarkly understands what fits his system, what doesn't. There are certain types of players that he will bring on in that he's only going to use on third down for run packages, for, you know, second down for pass rushing sets. He feels like he's got depth where he can run a dime package or a nickel package or just base four coverage. So I think that Clark Lee has built himself up into a position of where that will be stable. The question that you have after that, I think that more importantly is of the new pieces that are coming in to see more reps, are they going to be slow coming out the gate? Because the last thing that we want to do is go into that NC State game and have confidence after beating two underwhelming teams and because again, let's be real who you're facing off against in the first two games, you should feel very good about starting off the year two zero that NC State game. Could a guy like C.J. bailey beat us? And if C.J. bailey's beating us, what happens when we have to face off against say an Auburn like a Byron Brown? What happens when we have to take on a more mobile quarterback, say like a Kenny Minchi or Camario Taylor for that instance? It's like a good litmus test of here's where we are. Do we have enough of the Jimmies and Joes to be able to hold everything together?
- [23:58]
Host
Cole let's talk about the Vandy specialists really quickly. Brock Taylor is back at kicker a really underrated or just not really talked about piece for Vanderbilt football. But what he did a season ago Cole 13 of 14 on field goals, 6 of 630 to 39, 4 of 540 to 49 he was 1 of 1 on 50 plus made a 51 yarder. Cole the year before that he was 18 of 21 on field goal. So you have a very dependable field goal kicker that returns in the fold this year. Tyler Ebel from FCS South Dakota takes over at punter junior Cheryl Martell height give dynamic options in the return game amongst others as well. Cole They've been really solid on special teams under Clark Lee. Thoughts briefly on the specialist for Mandy I will say this, having a guy like Brock Taylor at kicker, I mean that's we see it in the SEC week after week. Cole that is an invaluable piece when you got a guy like that that can flip a game by getting you three when you desperately need it.
- [25:01]
Cole
Yeah I think having veteranship at both the return game and that's and that kicker is important because of you want to be able to set the tone for drives and you want to be able to know that you can score from anywhere. So Brock Taylor coming on back in massive win I think for the kicking game. I think Martel Height coming on back in as a returner now probably going to be focusing in on only returning in defense is another massive win for them. So I, I, I like what they have there and you are right. I think one of the more slept on things that we haven't paid attention to in the eyes of the Clarkley era is special teams are important and I think they're really important this season in the matter of inches because of all it takes is one or two kicks or one or two block punts or one or two setup runs by your by your kick returner to be able to be in a position to where you feel like that you can now put your foot on the gas and take over a game.
- [25:50]
Host
Cole that being said, the overall outlook for the Vanderbilt Commodores this season really quickly here's what our friends over at Kalshee have to say about Vandy. Cole Couch he's actually pretty confident in Vandy this season. They give him an 81 chance to win four or more games, 78 chance to win five or more, 55% to win six or more, 38 to win seven or more, 19 to win eight or more, 7% to win nine or more, 5% 10 or more, 5% 11 or more and a 10 chance to win 12. So if you're feeling frisky, there you go. But Cole VR friends at Kalshee the over under I would set it kind of breaks right at six and a half from 55 to 38, six to seven. So I mean going back to a bowl game for the Commodores is where Kelsey tends to favor Vandy. They even give Vanderbilt Cole a 6% chance to make the College Football Playoff this season. Nine starters are back. Four on the offensive side, five on the defensive side. Colon as we take a look at the 2026 schedule, you alluded to the early start in non conference play. You open up with Austin P at home. Then Delaware comes to first bank as well. Then that week three matchup goal. That's where you're going to kind of find out who you are. At least a nice early test in the season as NC State comes to Nashville First Bank Stadium. That'll be a really fun SEC ACC matchup. You close out the month of September, your SEC opener. It's your SEC road opener. Cole, you are at Auburn. Alex Golish will try to solve the riddle that Hugh Freeze cannot that is beating Vanderbilt. So that is your SEC road opener. You get the month of October going. Cole at Georgia. Jared Curtis very well facing off against the team that he turned down in favor of the Doors. Your SEC home opener comes against Ole Miss middle of October. Then you got Arkansas at Kentucky a bye week. Then you're at Mississippi State, Alabama at Florida, Tennessee to close out the season goal. Your thoughts on this schedule. Is it conducive to a big year in your mind for the doors?
- [28:01]
Cole
It can be. Is how quickly does everything gel together? I mean like naturally we talk about those first three games in the first 12 quarters to yourself. Well, we'll Be fine at that standpoint. What happens afterwards? You go into, you go into Jordan here, if I'm not mistaken. Correct.
- [28:15]
Host
Yes. You go into Jordan Hare. Yeah, that's your sec.
- [28:19]
Cole
So you're going into an already toxic environment and then what do you get welcomed in afterwards with a game against Georgia and then if things start to go off the rails there, what occurs? Do you end up playing poorly against Ole Miss and does that continue against Kentucky and does that continue when you have to face off against Mississippi State and there's Alabama be able to kind of unrail you. So you're gonna have to find your footing at some point. You're gonna have to be able to, I think, kind of show that there is that, that growth from. Yeah, it's a bunch of newcomers to know this is who our identity is. And you're gonna have to pull off an upset at least once or twice, I think to guarantee that you are seven and five and that's. That's seven and five. Not to mention you have to kind of hope that a couple of other teams play down the level of competition or that you're so composed and that all the pieces that are together are so caught up to speed and they're playing up to a schedule. It's not the worst schedule possible to where I think bowl eligibility is possible. An eight wing campaign can work, but there are a lot of moments to where you got to see that there is growth on your side as much as there is, you know, a little bit of luck on the other side. Like you talk about, like the Auburn game, you talk about like the Kentucky game, the Mississippi State game, the Florida game, Tennessee even to that matter, every one of those teams could end up having a fault to where if you just are better in one spot, offensive line protection, quarterback play, but more consistency in third down, the ability to score inside the red zone, that may give you the slight edge to where you get the win. But for every single time that we talk about that, there could be a moment to where things struggle and ultimately that's the reason you lose a game. So they're kind of in a rock and a hard place and they're really one of the more perplexing teams I think to prepare for this year. I see a world where they go 5 and 7. I see a world where they go 8 and 4. It's just how quickly do those non negotiables that you need for this roster gel together to be able to set up a standard of what you can expect here?
- [30:09]
Host
Yeah, they're going to be really interesting early Cole I mean like you mentioned you could start out four zero, you could start out two and two. You know just from the standpoint if you feel pretty good about weeks one and week two but that NC State game good early test at Auburn are you still able to have their number? I mean obviously I think Auburn is going to be out for revenge and that's going to be one they look at as an an absolute cannot lose. Cole that three game stretch for me and I know it's going to sound underwhelming but Arkansas at Kentucky at Mississippi State can you go three zero I mean that that to me is the big question because every other game at Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama at Florida, Tennessee you're looking for an upset and I know Vandy fans don't don't like to hear that especially when you talk about the Vols a team that they throttled last year but you know both teams look different but you look a lot different right and what are you the last week of the season we'll see and you do get that one at home but can you go three zero in those three I mentioned Arkansas, Kentucky, Ms. Fake can you go three zero in non conference Boom there's a bowl game right there and I think anything as we move into this conversation Cole about you know the new floor and I think what expectations look like the first year post Diego Pavia goal because I think we all expect Vandy to take a step back and again I say that with all due respect but I mean expecting this team and this program to win 10 games again there's a reason it only happened one time in the history of this program in the regular season Cole I think getting to a bowl game and establishing the floor as even when we are in a year of transition at the most important position in the sport and maybe all of sports even when we're in a year of transition winning six or seven games has become our floor right like we are a even at our quote unquote worst even at our floor we are a team to reckon with. We're not going to fall off to a two or three win team, you know flirting with going defeated in SEC play what have you. So I think getting to that six win mark can you win all three of the non conference games two of them are kick ins. Can you beat NC State and go three and O with non con and then you can can you beat three teams Cole that I think most Vanderbilt fans would look at this and say we should win. We're better than Arkansas, we're better than a year one head coach at Kentucky and we're better than Mississippi State. I, I, you know, right, wrong or different. I think most Vandy fans would look at it that way. Can you win the games you feel like you're supposed to win? And then can you beat an Auburn on the road? Can you, can you upset an Ole Miss at home? Can you upset Bama again, God forbid in Nashville? Can you beat your rival Tennessee again? What about at Florida with a first year at coach? So I, I think that three game stretch to me that that one's going to give you the best possible chance to get back to a bowl game set that floor that minimum going 500 or better and I think that Cole first year post Diego Pavia with a new quarterback with questions on the O line with so much new and different I think that would be a major success success.
- [33:09]
Cole
I don't think anybody should expect Vanderbilt to be this 10 and 2 team that is flirting with the opportunity to go to the College football Playoff. What I think is a winning season is you get an upset win on the road over an opponent that people believe is either a touchdown favorite over you or still a favorite over you. And I think more specifically it's about realizing that the foundation is set for the next stage of Vanderbilt football headlined by a quarterback that could have gone anywhere in the country and he chose to stay close to home. I want to know that Jared Curtis is my guy, looks the part not rattled and is going to give me a reason why. When I go into the portal and I meet with wide receivers or offensive linemen I point to the tape and I say this is the guy you're protecting. This the guy you're catching balls from. This is the guy that is going to be here as our leader for the future and you're going to end up being a reason why we get back that consistency that we saw in 20, 20, 25. That to me is a winning season. Victories are not bull eligibility. Bull eligibility naturally is something I, I think again and I'm not going to reveal too much but I do believe that Vanderbilt will be going bowling this year at the same time again you're just asking yourself okay what more do I need to see from this team to be able to feel like that they take a step forward.
- [34:19]
Host
Yeah and listen talking to Vandy fans again here, living here in Nashville, going to first bank a season ago when you talk with them and Vanderbilt fans are very level headed Cole this is not a fan base that's going to burn the whole thing down. If they don't, you know, make a run to the College Football Playoff this year. They just want to be respectable. They want to be in postseason play. And again, I think that can be done. Questions to be answered early part of the schedule sets up well, can you get to 6 and 6, 7 and 5? I think that would be a massive win. And again, what I think is a little bit of a transition year because of some of the questions you have to answer. You get to postseason play, I think that is a wildly successful campaign, especially Cole, if you can do so in a season where Jared Curtis develops, he gets better as the season goes. Like you mentioned, you build yourself up for 2027 to make a run at going to the College Football Playoff potentially. So again, going to be a really, really interesting year. Guys, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Vanderbilt football, after going 10 and 3 a season ago, after being a 10 win regular season team, where do they go from here? What does life look like? Post Diego Pavia for Vanderbilt Football would love to hear your thoughts, your predictions for the doors as the 2026 season quickly approaches.