Can Vanderbilt Spoil Alabama’s National Title Hopes Again?

After a 40-35 defeat to Vanderbilt last season, the Alabama Crimson Tide are looking to rebound. Though Jalen Milroe won’t be the starter, a new quarterback is ready to rewrite the story. 

Enter Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson. After a disappointing outing in the season opener against Florida State, he’s turned his season around. Opposing him is Diego Paiva, who played spoiler against Alabama last year. 

As No. 10 Alabama and No. 16 Vanderbilt press towards playoff contention, both teams will look to play disciplined and execute their designed game plans. Not only is this a top-25 matchup, but it comes with everything to lose, including hopes of a national title. 

Turning the Tide

Since the 31-17 loss against the Seminoles, Simpson has been on a tear. Since then, he’s thrown for 884 yards and nine touchdowns, including a 382-yard and four touchdown performance against Wisconsin. Simpson is yet to throw an interception, and if he performs again in a high-stakes matchup, his name could enter into Heisman conversations.

Weapons such as freshman running back Kevin Riley, Jam Miller, and receivers Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton can help Simpson continue his dominant run. Bernard has stepped up this season and become a Swiss Army Knife. He’s thrown one pass for four yards, rushed for 25 yards, and caught 20 passes for 310 yards. Bernard has also scored the ball five times. 

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Despite a slow start to the season, Williams is still a threat at receiver. Even with the issues of dropping passes, Kalen DeBoer has expressed confidence in Williams’ ability to get the job done and be a mismatch. After missing the game against the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Williams has produced, including a 165-yard and two-touchdown performance against Wisconsin. 

Alabama Wins in the Trenches

Anchoring the Tide offensive line is 6-foot-7 tackle Kadyn Proctor. After successfully losing weight during his nine-week journey, his play has only gotten better and looks smoother. Proctor is a key leader on the Crimson Tide line. 

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On defense, safety Bray Hubbard has made an impact in all aspects of the game. In his 2025 campaign, he has 17 tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions and a forced fumble. His ball-hawking ability allows him to make plays around the ball and create opportunities for the Crimson Tide offense to score. 

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Linebackers Deontae Lawson and LT Overton are other crucial members of the defense worth circling. Overton made a key 4th-and-1 stop against Georgia, while Lawson recovered the fumble Hubbard forced against Georgia. A true testament that Alabama has playmakers on their defense. 

Commodores Evenly Match Bama

Vanderbilt is no longer the stepping stone it once was for the Crimson Tide. No one can forget when Nifae Laelao challenged Alabama just to be humbled in a 59-0 loss. Nowadays, Vanderbilt is a tough out.

Pavia is not only looking to beat the Crimson Tide again, but is ready to take the Commodores to the next level in the SEC. In his 2025 campaign, he’s thrown 13 touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 75% of his passes. Though they started slow against Utah State, Vanderbilt would end up winning 55-35. Pavia must have his team ready for an intense SEC showdown.

In the backfield, Sedrick Alexander will be ready to challenge the Crimson Tide’s defensive front. On the season, Alexander has rushed 46 times for 243 yards and four touchdowns. Complementing him in the backfield is senior running back Makhilyn Young. In his 2025 season, he’s rushed 20 times for 211 yards and four scores. If Alexander and Young aren’t contained, problems will rise quickly for Alabama’s defense. 

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Tight end Eli Stowers is one player Alabama must focus on in defense. Stowers leads the team in receiving with 301 yards and two touchdowns. Outside of Stowers, receivers Tre Richardson and Junior Sherrell are the Commodores’ best weapons in the passing game. Sherrell has not only caught 17 passes for 225 yards, but he’s found the endzone five times.

Defensively, the Commodores have plenty of talent. For starters, edge rusher Miles Capers can wreak havoc. Capers has 3.5 sacks so far this season, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection. Florida Atlantic transfer CJ Heard is a safety who could make a play in the secondary. With one pick on the season and a forced fumble, he’s worth keeping an eye out for. 

Game Information

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No. 16 Vanderbilt Commodores v.s.  No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide

Time: 3:30 P.M.

Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium. Tuscalossa,AL

Network: ABC