Fans Eagerly Await: Key Questions Ahead of No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 16 Vanderbilt

No. 10 Alabama Eyes Redemption Against No. 16 Vanderbilt After Last Year’s Stunning Upset

There weren’t any rat traps or gimmicks this week. No. 10 Alabama didn’t need extra motivation heading into Saturday’s showdown with No. 16 Vanderbilt inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Crimson Tide still remember the sting of last year’s collapse in Nashville, when Vanderbilt stunned the then-top-ranked Tide, 40-35, snapping Alabama’s 23-game winning streak over the Commodores. The memory remains raw — especially with Vanderbilt fans storming the field in celebration.

“It hurt, I’m gonna be honest,” Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson said this week. “One, being from Tennessee, playing Vanderbilt. Two, that we had just found our identity with a big win like we did last week. We went in there and didn’t play our best, they stormed the field, nobody likes a field storm. That’s in the back of our mind. We don’t want to remember last year, but we also know that last year happened; it can’t go away. It’s all about us and this year.”

That loss not only ended a decades-long streak — Alabama had not fallen to Vanderbilt since 1984 — but also raised questions about the Tide’s staying power in the SEC. Now, with Alabama sitting at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play, Saturday’s matchup offers a chance to reclaim control of the rivalry. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is off to a surprising 5-0 start (1-0 SEC) and carries momentum into Tuscaloosa.

Oddsmakers favor Alabama by 10.5 points, but the Tide know nothing can be taken for granted.

Five Questions Heading Into Saturday’s Clash

1. Will Alabama’s offense find rhythm early?
   The Tide have leaned on big-play ability but struggled with consistency. Can Simpson establish tempo against an aggressive Vanderbilt defense?

2. Can Vanderbilt handle the Bryant-Denny atmosphere?
   Last year’s upset came in the friendly confines of Nashville. Playing in Tuscaloosa is an entirely different challenge for a Commodores team chasing national respect.

3. Who wins the battle in the trenches?
   Alabama’s offensive line has faced criticism, while Vanderbilt’s defensive front has been disruptive through five games.

4. Will revenge fuel Alabama — or create pressure?
   The Tide want redemption, but how they channel that motivation could decide the outcome.

5. Could this be Vanderbilt’s statement game?
   A second straight win over Alabama would cement Vanderbilt as a legitimate SEC contender.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on CBS, where both teams will try to prove last year’s result was either a fluke — or a turning point.