You might want to set a couple of alarms if you’ve been sleeping on Vanderbilt football because Clark Lea’s squad is turning heads, and it’s no accident. After years of being the SEC’s quietest neighbor, the Commodores made some serious noise in the last year. A 7–6 season, a gutsy upset of then-No. 1 Alabama (40-35), and a Birmingham Bowl victory over Georgia Tech (35-27)? That wasn’t just a fluke; that was a statement.

And Coach Lea knows it. Speaking at SEC Media Days, he made it clear that last year was just the beginning of something big. “To remain the same is to abandon the mission, and our mission is winning,” he said, basically telling fans that don’t get too comfy with 7 wins, we’re gunning for more. And honestly, with the way things are shaping up in 2025, that ambition might be necessary just to survive the gauntlet that’s coming.

Because what’s coming for Vanderbilt this season is already a nightmare. Let’s talk about what ESPN just dropped. The ESPN analytics ranked the toughest schedules in all of FBS, and guess who’s staring down the barrel at No. 2? Yep, Vanderbilt. Just behind Florida. Just ahead of Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia. That’s not a typo. Vanderbilt’s 2025 schedule, according to the data, is tough. The Commodores are walking into a season where every week feels like a playoff game, and somehow, we’re not even surprised.

Vanderbilt fans have seen tough schedules before as well, but this one’s on another level. The Commodores will start the season against Charleston Southern, but after that, it’s straight into the fire: Virginia Tech, South Carolina, and a revenge game vs. Texas on November 1st (remember last year’s 27–24 heartbreaker?). And of course, the always fun matchups with Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Brutal is an understatement. ESPN Analytics didn’t just say ‘tough,’ they basically said, ‘good luck surviving.’

Now, let’s talk about what Vanderbilt is bringing in the upcoming fall. They’re bringing back nine defensive starters, and their star quarterback, Diego Pavia, is back for a rare sixth year after winning an eligibility battle in court. Standing at 6 feet and weighing 207 pounds, Pavia threw for 2,293 yards, rushed for 801, and accounted for 28 total touchdowns last year. However, this time, Pavia would want his entire team to put in collective efforts and finish what was left last season.

Is Vanderbilt built to break through in 2025?

Vanderbilt pulled off an incredible upset against the 16-time national champions, Alabama, last year, creating history. For those who don’t know, they had not beaten the Crimson Tides since 1984, and they scored 40 points against them for the first time since 1906, while Bama only managed 35 points. So yeah, that ESPN list? It’s intimidating. But if you’re going to earn national respect, there’s no better way than beating those big programs that no one expected.

There are a few players apart from Pavia who can be a key factor for Lea’s squad. Returning running back Sedrick Alexander, who accumulated 585 rushing yards, and tight end Eli Stowers provide Pavia with a consistent target in the middle. Safety Randon Fontenette and edge rusher Khordae Sydnor are ones to watch on defense, as they’ll be anchoring a team that has nine starters back. This group has some serious dark-horse potential if it remains healthy.

All that aside, the path to the future is the college football equivalent of a lava floor. One injury, one ill turnover, and 7-6 turns into 4-8 in a hurry. That’s the gamble playing in a league where half your games are against teams with national championships hanging in the trophy room. But perhaps that’s just what this team needs.