(Photo: SeatGeek) 

Saturday Spotlight

(9) Vanderbilt Commodores at (20) Texas Longhorns

Vanderbilt (7–1)

Many people called that game against the Missouri Tigers boring, but as a former defensive player, I loved every second of it. It was low-scoring, hard-hitting, and physical — and most importantly, it showed that the art of defense isn’t lost. There’s nothing wrong with a good defensive struggle. I also want to give Missouri a lot of credit. They took what Alabama did and added their own philosophy — playing with the safeties high, disguising coverage with the defensive backs underneath, and forcing this high-powered Vanderbilt offense to earn its yards underneath instead of getting them over the top with home-run-type plays. Clark Lea is a good football coach, and I’ll tell you what’s stood out to me about his team this year. The Vanderbilt Commodores don’t have the same talent as Alabama, Georgia, or even Texas A&M, but they know how to play the game and execute. They’ve been excellent on third down and in controlling the clock. That’s been their formula for success this season. However, last Saturday was a much different story. Against Missouri, the offense struggled to move the ball and couldn’t convert on third down. They finished with just 265 total yards — a season low. Still, despite the struggles, they found a way to win, and to me, that was a key moment in their season. Today, they head to Austin for another big-time SEC showdown.

Texas (6–2)

No, they’re not “back.” And honestly, they’ve regressed this year compared to their last two seasons — when they were just a game away from the National Championship. That says a lot. Arch Manning was practically given his gold jacket and Heisman Trophy before taking a single NFL snap. I’ll admit — I’ve been frustrated watching this team. They’ve struggled to put games away, and too often they play down to their competition instead of dominating teams they should handle easily. But that’s football — you just never know. Could you imagine if the Longhorns had played all season the way they did in the Red River game? They’d be taken much more seriously — and ranked far higher than they are now. My main issue is with Steve Sarkisian. He’s calling the offensive plays himself, and I’ve never been a fan of head coaches doing that. If you want to call plays, be a coordinator; if you’re a head coach, your focus has to be on the entire football team, not just one side of the ball. As good as the defense has been this year, they were thrashed against Mississippi State — though they did tighten up when it mattered most in overtime. They’ve found ways to win despite plenty of things not going their way. Now, they return home for a showdown with Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt X-Factor: Eli Stowers

Eli Stowers is one of several weapons at quarterback Diego Pavia’s disposal. With Texas looking to pressure the quarterback and shut down the run, Vanderbilt will need reliable passing targets — and that’s where Eli comes in. He creates mismatches against linebackers and safeties who aren’t used to covering a tight end of his caliber. Getting him involved early could shift momentum for the Commodores and force the Longhorns to adjust their defensive scheme.

Texas X-Factor: Maraad Watson

He’s only a sophomore but transferred to Texas after a strong 2024 season with Syracuse. If you’ve listened to me on Monday Evening Quarterback, The Prime, The Betting Window, or College Football Showdown, you know I always emphasize the importance of an interior defensive presence — the kind of guy who does the dirty work so others can fly to the ball. That’s exactly what Maraad brings. At 6’3″ and 327 pounds, he provides size, disruption, and stability up front. He anchors the middle of the line and consistently collapses the pocket — allowing the edge rushers to feast.

Final Thoughts:

Welcome to November football — where it just means a little bit more. This is a crucial game for both teams. Last weekend, both narrowly escaped defeat: Vanderbilt won a defensive battle against Missouri, while Texas pulled off an overtime win in Starkville against Mississippi State. The million-dollar question: will Arch play? He’s been in concussion protocol all week. For Vanderbilt, the first key will be establishing the run early and often. Their offense thrives when they can control the clock with long, sustained drives. Limiting Texas’s possessions will be critical. Second, they need to avoid giving up explosive plays — force Texas into long drives rather than quick strikes, and win on third down. For Texas, stopping the run is priority number one — especially against a Commodores team that builds everything off the ground game. Whoever starts at quarterback must be protected and take advantage of a Vanderbilt secondary that can be exploited. Win the special situations, capitalize on turnovers, and own third down. I see the Texas defense being the difference-maker today. The offense will do just enough.

Prediction:

Texas 22, Vanderbilt 17