It was in October last year when college football couldn’t stop talking about the team that forced Alabama to bow down. Once overlooked, the Vanderbilt Commodores entered the 2025 season with newfound respect and higher expectations. Yet for head coach Clark Lea, the looming question remains whether his squad can finally overcome a familiar hurdle: an old rival, who has reigned over Vanderbilt for the past 16 years.

Diego Pavia went to court to be able to play this year. And so far, he’s making sure he gets the best out of this crucial year. Vanderbilt is now 2-0 ahead of Week 3. But it is really this weekend when the schedule gets going, as they gear up for SEC action. The Commodores will face a strong South Carolina this Saturday night. And in that high-stakes clash, David Pollack has little hope. “Vanderbilt has no shot. They’ve lost 16 straight. They’re going too c—ky,” he argued passionately in a September 11 episode of See Ball Get Ball.

Vanderbilt last won against South Carolina in 2008, and the Gamecocks enter this rivalry game ranked at No. 11 in the AP Poll. It’s going to be an intense showdown between the two this Saturday night. Pavia is currently the highest-graded quarterback in the country, per PFF, at 93.0 overall. On the other hand, on the Gamecocks’ defense, there will be a man out to get him: Dylan Stewart. The DE has been described by his own quarterback as “ferocious” and “vicious.” But Clark Lea, who began his head coaching career the same year as Shane Beamer, has a 0-4 record against the latter.

If there’s one team that Gamecocks fans can count on the squad to beat, it’s Vanderbilt. “Playing at home, I think that South Carolina will find a way to make some plays. That place will null them [Vanderbilt] out,” Pollack added. South Carolina has yet to impress this season. LaNorris Sellers has fallen behind his mark in the two games so far, having thrown just 2 TDs. As of now, he is the 15 QB (among 16 QBs) in the SEC when it comes to passing yards. Offensive line issues have shown as well. But they remain the overwhelming favorites to win this game. The Gamecocks’ defense has to use the home advantage in the best possible way to stop a strong Diego Pavia.

Both Lea and Beamer entered 2025 as coaches with some worry about their futures. But Lea’s job is nearer to the edge of doom, given his 16-33 record when the season began. The Gamecocks will use Vanderbilt to get back in the groove, but the Commodores will put up a strong fight. Clark Lea is hoping for a positive Week 3 for Vanderbilt, knowing the level of competition he’ll face at Columbia.

Clark Lea “excited” about fight against South Carolina

“[Last year’s loss to South Carolina] was really painful and we talk about it,” Lea told the press recently ahead of the Week 3 clash. The Commodores suffered a humiliating 28-7 defeat at the hands of Sellers and Co. ESPN’s matchup predictor is giving South Carolina a lead once again, indicating a 65.1% of winning. SEC play means this one is going to be a tough game for either squad, and they’ll both be wanting to have a win in their bags. But Lea is using the pain of the brutal loss as energy for this year.

“That was a learning moment for me [and] a learning moment for our team. We’ve referenced that moment a few times, not to make it about South Carolina, but about the spirit and energy needed in this league to win games in November,” Lea told the press. “I’m excited to take this team on the road in the league [and] play against a really good South Carolina team [in] a great environment. We’re going to have to play really well, so we’re challenged with that, but it’s also what you sign up for,” he added.

Vanderbilt hasn’t quite been able to shed its underdog status just yet. But based on these last two games, it looks worthy enough of pulling off an upset at Columbia. The Gamecocks will give them no less of a fight either, because of their crown jewel of a QB and the surrounding weapons. Will Clark Lea be able to surprise Pollack and South Carolina fans?