Vanderbilt vs. Alabama today: What to know

By Midstate Daily Sports Desk · Edited by Channing Webb · Nov. 14, 2026

Aerial view of Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium in Nashville with its green field and gold V at midfield (file photo) — File photo: Quintin Soloviev via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (source)

TLDRVanderbilt (4-5, 1-5 SEC) hosts No. 3 Alabama (7-2, 5-2 SEC) at 11:45 a.m. CT Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. The game is on SEC Network, with streaming on the ESPN app and radio on 102.5 The Game and 106.3 FM. Vandyville opens at 8:45 a.m. Expect a frosty start and a sunny high near 54. The Commodores beat No. 1 Alabama 40-35 the last time the Crimson Tide visited Nashville in 2024, but oddsmakers favor Alabama by about two touchdowns this time.

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The last time Alabama came to West End, Vanderbilt fans tore down the goalposts. The Crimson Tide are back in Nashville on Saturday, and this time they arrive with a College Football Playoff spot on the line.

Kickoff, TV, stream and radio

Kickoff is 11:45 a.m. CT at FirstBank Stadium, according to Vanderbilt Athletics. SEC Network has the broadcast, with Matt Schumacker on play-by-play, Aaron Murray as analyst and Taylor Davis on the sideline, according to Alabama's game notes.

You can stream the game on the ESPN app or Fubo, The Tennessean reported. Locally, the Vanderbilt radio call is on 102.5-FM The Game and 106.3-FM.

Gameday schedule and weather

Vandyville opens at 8:45 a.m., and the Commodore Court concert starts at 9:45 a.m., Vanderbilt Athletics said. The school is encouraging fans to arrive early.

Dress in layers. The National Weather Service in Nashville forecasts widespread frost before 9 a.m., then sunny skies with a high near 54 and temperatures easing to around 49 in the afternoon. Winds should be light. If you're tailgating early, a pack of hand warmers won't hurt. Overnight lows drop to around 28, so plan for a cold walk back if you stay out after dark. See our hard freeze coverage for tips on protecting pipes and plants.

Where the teams stand

Vanderbilt snapped a five-game losing streak last week with a 25-23 win at Mississippi State, its first SEC win of the season. Kicker Brock Taylor made a school-record six field goals in that game, including a 55-yarder late. Read our recap of the Mississippi State win.

Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis, the former top recruit who picked Vanderbilt over Georgia, has been up and down. He has thrown eight interceptions on 224 attempts, Roll 'Bama Roll noted in its preview.

Alabama is No. 3 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and is coming off a 31-13 win at LSU. Its two losses came to Georgia, 20-17, and at Tennessee, 26-10, according to Alabama's game notes. Quarterback Keelon Russell leads an offense that has won all seven of its games by more than 10 points, SB Nation's Roll 'Bama Roll reported.

ESPN lists Alabama as about a 14-point favorite, and ESPN Analytics gives Vanderbilt about a 5% chance to win.

The 2024 upset still hangs over this one

The Commodores beat top-ranked Alabama 40-35 in Nashville in 2024, the first win over a No. 1 team in program history. ESPN's preview this week said Alabama and coach Kalen DeBoer still can't escape the memories of that trip, even with all the roster changes since.

What's at stake

For Alabama, there's little room for error. With two losses, a third would put its playoff hopes in serious danger. The Tide close with Chattanooga and Auburn.

For Vanderbilt, a win would be the biggest of Clark Lea's sixth season and would keep its bowl hopes alive. The Commodores need two more wins to reach six, with trips to Florida on Nov. 21 and a home finale against Tennessee on Nov. 28 still left. If you're heading to the stadium, Vanderbilt Commodores gear is a good bet for staying warm and on brand.

Follow all of our Nashville sports coverage.

Sources

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