Vanderbilt opens the 2026 college football season Saturday night when the Commodores welcome Austin Peay to FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.
The Commodores are coming off their first winning season since 2013, finishing 2025 with a 10-3 record and a loss to Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Clark Lea enters his sixth season looking to keep Vanderbilt moving forward after the program’s breakthrough 2025 campaign.
Saturday’s opener also marks the beginning of life after Diego Pavia, who left Vanderbilt after two seasons as the Commodores’ starting quarterback. Vanderbilt has yet to publicly settle on one full-time replacement, with Blaze Berlowitz among the quarterbacks competing for playing time. The Commodores’ quarterback plan will be one of the biggest storylines to follow against Austin Peay.
How to Watch Austin Peay at Vanderbilt
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
- TV: SEC Network+
- Live Stream: ESPN App
- Streaming Options: ESPN Unlimited and YouTube TV
Vanderbilt Commodores Roster Outlook
Lea and the Commodores have significantly higher expectations heading into 2026.
The biggest personnel question centers on quarterback following Pavia’s departure. Vanderbilt has multiple options competing for the position, including Blaze Berlowitz, who is expected to receive an opportunity in the season opener.
Vanderbilt’s defense also returns several experienced players from last year’s team, giving Lea a foundation to build around while the offense adjusts to life without Pavia.
Austin Peay Governors Roster Outlook
Austin Peay enters the matchup after going 7-5 in 2025. The Governors are led by head coach Jeff Faris, who is entering his third season with the program.
Quarterback Chris Parson is one of the key players to watch for Austin Peay. The former four-star recruit transferred to the Governors after beginning his college career at Mississippi State and gives the offense a talented option under center.
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Austin Peay will be seeking a major upset against an SEC opponent, while Vanderbilt will look to avoid an early-season stumble as it begins its first campaign without Pavia.
Saturday’s game will be the third meeting between Vanderbilt and Austin Peay.
College Football Conference Predictions
Athlon Sports predicts the finishing order for teams in the following conferences:
- ACC
- American
- Big 12
- Big Ten
- Conference USA
- MAC
- Mountain West
- Pac-12
- SEC
- Sun Belt
