2023 Vanderbilt Commodores football team explained
The 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores were led by Clark Lea in his third year as their head coach. Following their blowout loss to Ole Miss, the Commodores became ineligible for a bowl selection for the 5th consecutive season. This was the last year of the Eastern and Western divisions of the SEC, as Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.
Schedule
Vanderbilt and the SEC announced the 2023 football schedule on September 20, 2022.[1] [2] The 2023 Commodores' schedule consists of 6 home games and 6 away games for the regular season. Vanderbilt will host four SEC conference opponents Auburn, Georgia (rivalry), Kentucky (rivalry) and Missouri at home and will travel to four SEC opponents, Florida, Mississippi (rivalry), South Carolina and Tennessee (rivalry) to close out the SEC regular season on the road. Vanderbilt is not scheduled to play SEC West opponents Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas A&M in the 2023 regular season. The Commodores' have two bye weeks this season.
Vanderbilt's out of conference opponents represent the ACC, Mountain West and SWAC. The Commodores will host two of the four non–conference games which are against Alabama A&M from the SWAC and Hawaii from the Mountain West. The Commodores will travel to two non–conference games which are against UNLV also from the Mountain West and will travel to Wake Forest from the ACC.
[3]
Game summaries
vs Hawaii
See also: 2023 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team.
| Uniform Combination |
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
| Statistics | HAW | VAN |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total yards | 391 | 297 |
| Rushing yards | 40 | 39 |
| Passing yards | 351 | 258 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:22 | 28:38 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Hawaii | Passing | | 27/35, 351 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Landon Sims | 9 carries, 38 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 127 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | | 19/30, 258 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Patrick Smith | 7 carries, 30 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 72 yards | |
vs Alabama A&M (FCS)
| Uniform Combination |
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
| Statistics | AAMU | VAN |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 24 |
| Total yards | 278 | 461 |
| Rushing yards | 135 | 215 |
| Passing yards | 143 | 246 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:22 | 27:38 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Alabama A&M | Passing | Xavier Lankford | 11/22, 105 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Isaiah Nwokenkwo | 1 carry, 39 yards |
| Receiving | Terrell Gardner | 3 receptions, 83 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | AJ Swann | 15/29, 194 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 12 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Jayden McGowan | 6 receptions, 70 yards | |
at Wake Forest
See also: 2023 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team.
| Uniform Combination |
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
| Statistics | VAN | WAKE |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 29 |
| Total yards | 423 | 484 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 288 |
| Passing yards | 314 | 196 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:43 | 34:17 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | AJ Swann | 26/39, 314 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Patrick Smith | 10 carries, 77 yards |
| Receiving | London Humphreys | 4 receptions, 109 yards, TD |
| Wake Forest | Passing | | 17/26, 196 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Demond Claiborne | 26 carries, 165 yards |
| Receiving | Ke'Shawn Williams | 5 receptions, 92 yards, TD | |
at UNLV
See also: 2023 UNLV Rebels football team.
| Uniform Combination |
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants | |
| Statistics | VAN | UNLV |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 21 |
| Total yards | 420 | 403 |
| Rushing yards | 38–83 | 40–127 |
| Passing yards | 337 | 276 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–37–1 | 21–37–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:45 | 28:35 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | AJ Swann | 17/35, 335 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Patrick Smith | 13 carries, 43 yards |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 102 yards, TD |
| UNLV | Passing | | 19/33, 261 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jai'Den Thomas | 13 carries, 50 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 12 receptions, 165 yards | |
See also: 2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team.
| Statistics | UK | VAN |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 20 |
| Total yards | 60–365 | 74–328 |
| Rushing yards | 31–160 | 27–97 |
| Passing yards | 205 | 231 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–29–2 | 20–47–4 |
| Time of possession | 31:11 | 28:49 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kentucky | Passing | | 15/29, 205 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | | 17 carries, 78 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 105 yards |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | AJ Swann | 16/40, 189 yards, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 8 carries, 37 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Gamarion Carter | 2 receptions, 48 yards | |
vs No. 23 Missouri
See also: 2023 Missouri Tigers football team.
| Statistics | MIZZ | VAN |
|---|
| First downs | 28 | 15 |
| Total yards | 75–532 | 72–300 |
| Rushing yards | 34–137 | 20–41 |
| Passing yards | 395 | 259 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 33–41–0 | 20–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 35:58 | 24:02 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Missouri | Passing | | 33/41, 395 yards, 4 TD |
| Rushing | Nathaniel Peat | 12 carries, 71 yards |
| Receiving | | 11 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TD |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | | 20/31, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jayden McGowan | 3 carries, 24 yards |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 98 yards, TD | |
at Florida
See also: 2023 Florida Gators football team.
| Statistics | VAN | FLA |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 53–344 | 71–495 |
| Rushing yards | 19–64 | 30–215 |
| Passing yards | 280 | 280 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–34–0 | 34–41–1 |
| Time of possession | 23:02 | 36:58 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Ken Seals | 19/34, 280 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 8 carries, 29 yards |
| Receiving | Will Sheppard | 3 receptions, 107 yards, TD |
| Florida | Passing | | 30/36, 254 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | | 18 carries, 135 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Arlis Boardingham | 7 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD | |
vs No. 1 Georgia (rivalry)
See also: 2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team.
| Statistics | UGA | VAN |
|---|
| First downs | 26 | 9 |
| Total yards | 78–552 | 47–219 |
| Rushing yards | 39–291 | 15–18 |
| Passing yards | 261 | 201 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 29–39–1 | 19–29–1 |
| Time of possession | 37:19 | 22:41 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia | Passing | | 29/39, 261 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | | 20 carries, 146 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 9 receptions, 72 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Ken Seals | 19/29, 201 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 6 carries, 16 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jayden McGowan | 5 receptions, 58 yards | |
at No. 12 Ole Miss (rivalry)
See also: 2023 Ole Miss Rebels football team.
| Statistics | VAN | MISS |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 22 |
| Total yards | 229 | 431 |
| Rushing yards | 169 | 177 |
| Passing yards | 60 | 254 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 8–20–2 | 20–29–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:59 | 27:01 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Walter Taylor | 4/12, 38 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Walter Taylor | 20 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Junior Sherrill | 2 receptions, 28 yards |
| Ole Miss | Passing | | 19/28, 240 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 17 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | | 8 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD | |
vs Auburn
See also: 2023 Auburn Tigers football team.
| Statistics | AUB | VAN |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 12 |
| Plays–yards | 64–424 | 62–266 |
| Rushes–yards | 37–230 | 30–100 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 166 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–27–1 | 17–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:39 | 33:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Auburn | Passing | Payton Thorne | 17/27, 194 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jarquez Hunter | 19 carries, 183 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Ja'Varrius Johnson | 3 receptions, 62 yards |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Ken Seals | 16/29, 160 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 9 carries, 40 yards |
| Receiving | Will Sheppard | 4 receptions, 43 yards | |
at South Carolina
See also: 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks football team.
| Statistics | VAN | SC |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 21 |
| Total yards | 235 | 487 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 136 |
| Passing yards | 104 | 351 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–28–0 | 28–36–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:47 | 27:13 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Ken Seals | 13–28, 103 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Walter Taylor | 6 carries, 39 yards |
| Receiving | London Humphreys | 3 receptions, 33 yards |
| South Carolina | Passing | | 28–36, 351 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Mario Anderson | 9 carries, 102 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 9 receptions, 120 yards | |
at Tennessee (rivalry)
See also: 2023 Tennessee Volunteers football team.
| Statistics | VAN | TENN |
|---|
| First downs | 22 | 31 |
| Total yards | 306 | 617 |
| Rushing yards | 78 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 228 | 449 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–32–0 | 31–47–0 |
| Time of possession | 34:21 | 25:39 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Vanderbilt | Passing | AJ Swann | 14/23, 167 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Sedrick Alexander | 11 carries, 46 yards |
| Receiving | Junior Sherrill | 4 receptions, 52 yards, TD |
| Tennessee | Passing | | 22/33, 383 yards, 4 TD |
| Rushing | | 11 carries, 75 yards |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD | |
Coaching staff
| Clark Lea | Head coach | 3rd |
| Justin Lustig | Associate head coach/special teams coordinator/tight ends coach | 3rd |
| Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | 3rd |
| Defensive coordinator | 2nd |
| Nick Lezynski | Linebackers coach/Defensive Run Game Coordinator | 2nd |
| A.J. Blazek | Offensive line coach | 3rd |
| Defensive ends coach | 3rd |
| Defensive tackles coach | 2nd |
| Alex Bailey | Wide receivers | 2nd |
| Dan Jackson | Defensive Backs coach | 2nd |
| Jayden Everett | Running Backs Coach | 1st | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 2023 SEC football schedule by team.... CBSSports.com. Barrett. Sallee. February 18, 2023. September 20, 2022.
- News: Vanderbilt football’s 2023 schedule is complete: See the full list of opponents, dates. The Tennessean. Aria Gerson. September 20, 2022.
- Web site: 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Schedule. FB Schedules.com. February 18, 2023.
