Vanderbilt football's spot in the preseason coaches poll might surprise you
Vanderbilt football received three votes in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll released Aug. 4.
Coach Clark Lea and the Commodores are technically the 50th-ranked team, behind 24 others in the "others receiving votes" column. Vanderbilt is ranked 14th among 16 SEC teams in poll points; only Kentucky and Mississippi State did not receive any votes.
The Commodores finished the 2024 season with a 7-6 record and a Birmingham Bowl victory. They return quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers, among others.
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Vanderbilt was ranked in the coaches poll on two separate occasions in 2024 but was not ranked in the final poll.
Here is the full preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
College football rankings, preseason
US LBM Coaches Poll
- Texas
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Clemson
- Oregon
- Alabama
- LSU
- Miami
- Arizona State
- Illinois
- South Carolina
- Michigan
- Ole Miss
- SMU
- Florida
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Kansas State
- Texas A&M
- Iowa State
- BYU
- Texas Tech
- Boise State
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 221; Missouri 142; Louisville 126; Southern California 116; Utah 86; Baylor 76; Auburn 50; Iowa 49; Memphis 34; Army 33; Tulane 31; Georgia Tech 27; TCU 24; Nebraska 19; Syracuse 16; Washington 15; Navy 14; Arkansas 14; Duke 12; Colorado 12; Minnesota 11; UNLV 8; Florida State 8; Kansas 6; Vanderbilt 3; Buffalo 1.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.