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How Vanderbilt football once again failed to shape its future

By Austin Lloyd

HONOLULU, HI - AUGUST 27: Mike Wright #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores is congratulated by Justin Ball #84 of the Vanderbilt Commodores after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA football game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarance T.C. Ching Athletic Complex on August 27, 2022 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - AUGUST 27: Mike Wright #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores is congratulated by Justin Ball #84 of the Vanderbilt Commodores after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA football game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarance T.C. Ching Athletic Complex on August 27, 2022 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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Nov 20, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Mike Wright (5) makes a pass against the Mississippi Rebels during the fourth quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Mike Wright (5) makes a pass against the Mississippi Rebels during the fourth quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

How Vanderbilt football finished its season

Entering Week 11, the Commodores were rocking an unattractive 3-6 record, and the opponents that awaited them had fans bracing themselves. Their final three games were a trip to Lexington to face the then-ranked Kentucky Wildcats before hosting both Florida and top-10 Tennessee. If those matchups don’t each scream “beatdown,” none do. That did not appear to kill Vandy’s spark, though.

At the time of the Commodores strolling into Kroger Field, they had not won an SEC game since 2019 (21-14 over Missouri). With that said, the losing streak was not expected to end against the Cats — until it did.

In instant-classic fashion, Vandy downed Kentucky 24-21 on the latter’s own turf. That alone was enough to send the state of Tennessee to the moon, as Commodores fans far and wide felt a degree of elation that they hadn’t experienced in ages. It was such a shame that it was all going to come crashing down the next week when the Gators came to town.

To put it simply, Vanderbilt is Florida’s punching bag. Entering this year’s matchup, the Commodores had only beaten the Gators once since 1988 (2013, 34-17). So, if it took a miracle for them to beat Kentucky, they weren’t going to be too happy with next week’s result — until they were.

In Week 12, Vandy actually got another conference win, and it was even more convincing this time around.

The Gators didn’t know what to do with themselves against the Commodores, unexpectedly being stuck with a 28-12 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter. And while they did go on to narrow the gap, it was not enough to keep Vandy from taking the eventual 31-24 win.

Those stunners brought Vanderbilt’s record up to 5-6, and while there was a ton of hype surrounding the team on its way into rivalry week, it amounted to nothing in what ended up being a 56-0 humiliation against the Volunteers.

But, in spite of the embarrassing conclusion to their 2022 run, the Commodores nonetheless have a lot to look forward to as they enter the offseason, right? Well, not exactly. As bleak as it may sound, the hopeful weeks that headlined the last portion of their schedule will ultimately mean nothing.

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