Tennessee Faces Vanderbilt in Rivalry Game With Playoff Hopes on the Line

No. 7 Tennessee seeks a decisive win to secure a College Football Playoff berth, while Vanderbilt aims to clinch its first winning season since 2013.

Tennessee enters Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt as an 11-point favorite, needing a win to bolster its playoff chances and potentially secure an on-campus postseason game.
Vanderbilt, already bowl-eligible, looks to upset its in-state rival and achieve its first winning season in over a decade under coach Clark Lea, a Vanderbilt alumnus.
Tennessee boasts one of the nation’s top defenses, ranking fourth in scoring defense and sixth in total defense, while Vanderbilt’s quarterback Diego Pavia has been key to their upset wins this season.
Star Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson, who leads the SEC with 22 rushing touchdowns, will be a focal point against Vanderbilt’s defense.
The game will be played at Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium on Saturday at noon EST, with Tennessee holding a five-game winning streak in the series.