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Vanderbilt ranked in AP Top 25 for first time in over a decade
By Crissy Froyd
Published:
The Vanderbilt Commodores are ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in over a decade, marking a huge milestone in the Clark Lea era.
Vanderbilt came in at No. 25 overall, cracking its way into the rankings after receiving more votes than any other team did without being ranked in the last release of the poll. This comes on the heels of its 24-14 victory over the Ball State Cardinals as the Commodores currently hold an overall record of 5-2.
Vanderbilt ranked for 1st time since No. 24 in the final poll of the 2013 season. The Commodores at 5-2 are off to their best start since opening 5-0 in 2008. That also was the last time Vandy was ranked in the regular season https://t.co/yAqlPDz6ky by @ericolson64
— Teresa Walker (@TeresaMWalker) October 20, 2024
There’s the sense that it has taken far too long for the Commodores to crack into the poll, and perhaps rightfully so. There was some confusion and there were certainly mixed opinions when the team took down the then-No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, but did not even have a place in the rankings while Alabama moved down a mere handful of spots despite being on the receiving end of one of the worst upsets in recent college football history.
There were questions as to whether or not Vanderbilt’s success there was merely a fluke, but the Commodores put all of that doubt away when they only built upon the foundation, defeating the Kentucky Wildcats the following week, 20-13 on Oct. 12.
It will be interesting to watch how they progress through the season as a team that looks like it could be a legitimate SEC power.
Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.
