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Vanderbilt faces biggest challenge yet against No. 10 Alabama in SEC showdown

Vanderbilt faces biggest challenge yet against No. 10 Alabama in SEC showdown

Associated Press
2025/10/02
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Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference:

No. 16 Vanderbilt (5-0, 2-0 SEC) at No. 10 Alabama (3-1, 1-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Vanderbilt improved to 5-0 and a season-best No. 16 ranking in the AP Top 25 after a 55-35 win over Utah State. Alabama remembers its loss to Vandy a year ago and this is the biggest challenge of the season so far for a Commodores team that’s beaten each of its opponents by at least three touchdowns.

Mississippi State (4-1, 0-1 SEC) at No. 6 Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)

Mississippi State has been getting Top 25 votes most of the season. Coming off a 41-34 overtime loss to No. 15 Tennessee, the Bulldogs get another chance for a marquee win.

Texas A&M has the highest ranking of Mike Elko’s tenure in College Station. This week will be especially meaningful for Aggies’ leading receiver Mario Craver, who transferred from Mississippi State to Texas A&M in the offseason. Craver and KC Conception account for an FBS-best 204.3 receiving yards per game. Both receivers rank in the top 25 nationally in receiving yards per game.

— Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia comes off his best performance of the season, completing 26 passes for 321 yards, five touchdowns and running for a score against Utah State. Pavia has a 74.6 completion percentage through five games, completing 94 of 126 passes for 1,211 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.

— To no one’s suprise, Trinidad Chambliss has been named the starting quarterback after leading No. 4 Ole Miss to a 24-19 win over LSU. He has thrown for 974 yards and rushed for 245 over the past three weeks, becoming the first SEC player in 30 years with at least 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in three consecutive games.

Who has it the toughest moving forward?

Vanderbilt’s schedule doesn’t get much easier from here. After Alabama and the subsequent bye week, Vanderbilt’s final six weeks of the season includes No. 13 LSU, No. 19 Missouri, No. 9 Texas and No. 15 Tennessee.

Arkansas has a daunting stretch going forward, with Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU, Texas and Missouri in the final weeks. After Sam Pittman’s firing, the Razorbacks are also getting used to interim coach Bobby Petrino.