A year ago, Vanderbilt—riding a three-game winning streak including their program-shifting win against Alabama—took Texas down to the wire, ultimately falling 27–24. That Longhorns team went on to the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Commodores would finish 7–6, marking significant progress for Clark Lea’s program.

No. 20 Texas is hosting No. 9 Vanderbilt for the first time since 1903 on Saturday in a battle of top-20 SEC teams jockeying for positioning ahead of the first College Football Playoff rankings next week. The Commodores (7-1, 3-1 SEC) are in the midst of a historic season that includes consecutive victories over top-15 opponents.

A lot has changed about college football over the last five seasons. Texas and Vanderbilt illustrate that dynamic as they prepare to meet.

Vanderbilt football has a big clash against Texas that'll clear up both the SEC title race and College Football Playoff picture.

Lea and quarterback Diego Pavia are two big reasons for Vanderbilt's success, but they aren't the only people behind its sudden transformation from SEC also-ran to legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

Things began well enough in November 2024, when Vanderbilt won at Auburn, marking the team’s first victory in 10 attempts at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Vanderbilt was 6-3 overall at that point and 3-2 in the SEC, ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 and potentially poised to make some real noise down the stretch.

Here's how Vanderbilt football's availability report shapes up for the SEC Week 10 matchup with Texas, including Arch Manning.

No. 9 Vanderbilt continues its impressive football season, eyeing both the Southeastern Conference championship and a College Football Playoff berth.