Vanderbilt Commodores

0–0 · 0–0 SEC

Preseason

WEEK 8 · 2026

The Week 8 job

Beat Kentucky and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow35%Win41%Loss20%

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt 73%Kentucky 27%

Kentucky

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 1

Oregon

at

Root for

Illinois

Root for Illinois1.9-point playoff boost

Illinois winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

37% if Illinois wins35% with the other result1.9-point differenceVanderbilt playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 2

Oklahoma

at

Root for

Mississippi State

Root for Mississippi State1.9-point playoff boost

Mississippi State visits your schedule in week 10: keep them ranked.

36% if Mississippi State wins34% with the other result1.9-point differenceVanderbilt playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 3

Iowa

at

Root for

Minnesota

Root for Minnesota1.5-point playoff boost

Minnesota winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

36% if Minnesota wins35% with the other result1.5-point differenceVanderbilt playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 4

Root for

Iowa State

at

Arizona

Root for Iowa State1.5-point playoff boost

Iowa State winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

36% if Iowa State wins35% with the other result1.5-point differenceVanderbilt playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 5

Root for

Tennessee

at

South Carolina

Root for Tennessee1.4-point playoff boost

Tennessee visits your schedule in week 13: keep them ranked.

36% if Tennessee wins34% with the other result1.4-point differenceVanderbilt playoff chance

…

…

CBSSN

Priority 6

Root for

Utah State

at

Texas State

Root for Utah State1.4-point playoff boost

Utah State winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

36% if Utah State wins35% with the other result1.4-point differenceVanderbilt playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 7

Texas A&M

at

Root for

Alabama

Root for Alabama1.3-point playoff boost

Alabama visits your schedule in week 11: keep them ranked.

36% if Alabama wins34% with the other result1.3-point differenceVanderbilt playoff chance

46 more games that don't move your needle

Middle Tennessee at Florida International · CBSSN

Missouri State at Delaware · ESPNU

South Alabama at Marshall · ESPN2

Liberty at Kennesaw State · CBSSN

New Mexico State at Sam Houston · ESPN2

East Carolina at Memphis · ESPN2

James Madison at App State · ESPNU

Duke at Virginia · ESPN

NC State at Stanford · ESPN

Army at Tulsa · ESPN2

LSU at Auburn

Ole Miss at Texas

Baylor at Kansas

BYU at UCF

Colorado at Oklahoma State

Houston at Utah

Kansas State at Arizona State

Texas Tech at Cincinnati

West Virginia at TCU

California at SMU

Boston College at Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh at Miami

Syracuse at North Carolina

Virginia Tech at Clemson

Indiana at Michigan

Rutgers at Northwestern

Michigan State at UCLA

USC at Wisconsin

San Diego State at Colorado State · The CW Network

Boise State at Washington State · USA Network

Massachusetts at UConn · CBSSN

Rice at Florida Atlantic

North Texas at Navy · CBSSN

UTSA at Tulane

Air Force at Wyoming · The CW Network

Hawai'i at Northern Illinois · MW+

San José State at Nevada · MW+

Akron at Kent State

Bowling Green at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Ohio

Western Michigan at Toledo

Miami (OH) at Central Michigan

Georgia State at Arkansas State

Louisiana at Southern Miss

Old Dominion at Louisiana Tech

UL Monroe at Troy

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 8, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.