NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt plays its penultimate home game of the season at 11 a.m. Saturday when Florida pays a visit to FirstBank Stadium.
Vandy (4-6, 1-5 SEC) is coming off a resounding 24-21 win at Kentucky last time out. The Commodores broke long losing streaks to SEC teams, Power 5 conference teams and in league road games thanks to a last-minute touchdown pass in Lexington.
Florida (6-4, 3-4 SEC) is riding back-to-back wins over Texas A&M and South Carolina, respectively, for first-year head coach Billy Napier. The Gators have won eight in a row against Vanderbilt.
Here is more on how to watch, listen to and follow Saturday’s contest as well as five key matchups to consider when the Commodores face the Gators:
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Location: FirstBank Stadium (39,790)
Television: SEC Network
Broadcast Crew
Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Channel Finder
AT&T | Xfinity | DISH | Comcast
Streaming
Available via WatchESPN
Vanderbilt Sports Network from Learfield
Announcers: Andrew Allegretta (play-by-play), Norman Jordan (analyst), Kevin Ingram (sideline)
On-Air Time: 10 a.m. CT
Affiliates: Nashville WQZQ 93.3 FM; Chattanooga WALV 95.3 FM; Lewisburg WJJM 1490 AM, 94.3 FM; Memphis WMPS 1210 AM, 103.1 FM
Satellite: SiriusXM 190; SiriusXM online 961
Social
Twitter: @VandyFootball and @VandyNotes
Instagram: @VandyFootball
Facebook: @VanderbiltFootball
Streaming Audio
Vanderbilt Athletics App (Free)
Weather
40 degrees at kickoff, zero percent chance of rain
1. All About the Ground Game
The Florida Gators have the 11th-best rushing attack in the nation and second-best in the SEC. Simply put, Vanderbilt’s defense has to slow down the Florida ground game to have any hope Saturday.
In six wins this season, Florida is averaging 278.3 yards per game. In four losses? That average drops to 146.8. And in only one game this season have the Gators surpassed the 200-yard mark and still lost—a 45-35 shootout with LSU. Florida also has three backs who have all rushed for at least 500 yards.
Vanderbilt and defensive coordinator Nick Howell must devise a game plan to somehow stop the runnin’ Gators in their tracks.
2. The Ball is the Program
In recent weeks, Vanderbilt has been fighting the flu bug. It also has been battling the turnover bug.
The Commodores have at least one turnover in five straight games. Even more concerning is the team’s six giveaways the last two…