Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Arkansas Football: Takeaways from SEC shootout against Vanderbilt

By Andrew Miller

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Kyle Shurmur #14 hands off the ball to Ke'Shawn Vaughn #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Kyle Shurmur #14 hands off the ball to Ke'Shawn Vaughn #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

2. Vanderbilt hasn’t made much progress under Derek Mason

The fight to stay out of the bottom of the SEC East for the Vanderbilt Commodores is a struggle this year. It’s even more difficult for Vanderbilt fans too since head coach Derek Mason is getting this team close on almost a weekly basis but can’t seem to come up with the marquee wins.

This win over Arkansas football is huge for the Commodores in the quest to bowl eligibility. But, both Arkansas and Vanderbilt came into this game with nothing but losses in SEC play so it wasn’t the toughest opponent on tap for Mason this fall. Both Chad Morris and Mason are trying to get their respective programs on track in the SEC, but it’s definitely an uphill battle.

Vanderbilt is still alive for a bowl game, but gaining ground in the SEC is something that still eludes Mason this year. A winning record in SEC play is already beyond the Commodores, but at least his team has momentum for the stretch run of the regular season. That needs to keep going for Vanderbilt to take advantage of an opportune three-game stretch at season’s end.

The Mizzou Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers, and Mizzou cap off the regular season for Vanderbilt. Winning at least two of those three is certainly possible and needed for bowl eligibility. Getting possibly the biggest win of the season thus far will help out the mindset of this team after the first conference win of 2018.

Home/Arkansas Razorbacks