Vanderbilt is bowl eligible because Clark Lea has outcoached opponents, other overreactions
AUBURN, Ala. — It wasn't pretty, but Vanderbilt football gained bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018 with a win over Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.
The Commodores (6-3, 3-2 SEC) won, 17-7 , in a game in which neither offense got much going. But it was good enough to gain bowl eligibility for the first time in the Clark Lea era, win at Jordan-Hare for the first time ever and defeat Alabama and Auburn in the same season for the first time since 1955.
Vanderbilt got its sixth win earlier in the season than any time under former coach James Franklin.
Despite a down game for Diego Pavia, who went 9-for-22 with 143 yards, the Commodores played the cleaner game to pull out the win.
Here are three overreactions from the game:
Vanderbilt has real deficiencies in the passing game
Vanderbilt has gone run-heavy for a reason. It's worked well all year − but Auburn appears to have found something defensively. The Tigers loaded the box, stuffing runs and daring the Commodores to pass. Diego Pavia struggled to connect on his deep shots and when Auburn got pressure, the Tigers often got Vanderbilt behind the chains.
Auburn made too many mistakes to win the game, but teams with strong defenses like South Carolina and Tennessee could take a page out of the Tigers' book, and the Commodores must be able to adjust.
GLENN SEABROOKS Glenn Seabrooks was a first baseman and punter. That versatility pays off for Vanderbilt football
It's not just Brock Taylor — Jesse Mirco and Martel Hight are elite too
One of the best special teams trios in the country, kicker Brock Taylor, punter Jesse Mirco and punt returner Martel Hight have been winning games for Vanderbilt all year.
Mirco's punting pinned Auburn deep and helped the Commodores win the field position game. When Mirco's punt pinned the Tigers at the 2-yard line in the third quarter, Hight added on a long punt return after a three-and-out to set Vanderbilt up already in field-goal range. Taylor made the kick to give the Commodores their first lead.
Vanderbilt has been better coached than its opponents
Auburn had a chance to win the game with its defensive performance, but the Tigers committed costly penalties that changed the game.
That's not new. Vanderbilt has played cleaner football than its opponent in most games this season, avoiding turnovers and penalties and playing well on special teams.
That's credit to Lea and Jerry Kill, which has the Commodores better-coached than their opponents week after week. That's played a big role in getting Vanderbilt bowl eligible.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. at or on X, formerly Twitter, .
