It took double-overtime for Missouri football to see off Vanderbilt in 2024, and the Tigers’ mid-October road trip to Nashville isn’t one to overlook.
Vandy has steadily but surely improved under head coach Clark Lea. Last season, the Commodores found the necessary tools to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2018, knocking off Alabama in the process.
A lot of those players return — the third-most returning players in the FBS, per ESPN’s SP+ rankings.
That could make the 2025 matchup, which takes place Oct. 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, a tough trip for the Tigers.
The Tribune is analyzing the offseason of each of Mizzou’s 2025 opponents to get you up to speed with the new rosters and coaching staff changes after a busy offseason.
Here’s what to know about Vanderbilt in 2025, including key additions, coaching changes and playmakers to keep an eye on when the Tigers visit the Commodores in October:
Who are opposing names to know when Missouri football faces Vanderbilt?
Quarterback: Diego Pavia changed the college eligibility criteria in the offseason en route to earning himself another year in Nashville. On the grounds that junior college eligibility should not count toward Division-I eligibility, Pavia sued the NCAA, which ultimately granted Pavia — and every other former JUCO player — an extra year. The former state champion wrestler, who plays the quarterback position with a similar brand of physicality, is back to run Vandy’s offense, and that’s dangerous for everyone.
Offensive playmaker: Tight end Eli Stowers is one of those players most fans likely don’t know but probably should. Like Pavia, he joined the Commodores in 2024 from New Mexico State, and he went on to catch a team-high 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Stowers is likely to get some decent 2026 NFL Draft consideration. In the meantime, he shapes up as Pavia’s top offensive weapon.
Defensive playmaker: Randon Fontenette was an impactful presence for the Commodores at the hybrid linebacker/safety ‘star’ position last season, totaling 73 total tackles, including three sacks and a team-high eight tackles for loss, in addition to eight pass breakups and an interceptions. Vandy gets a lot of returning pieces back, and Fontenette looks set to feature at the heart of it.
What did the offseason look like for Vandy?
Notable additions: Jordan White (C, Liberty); Keanu Koht (LB, Alabama); Jaylon Stone (DT, SEMO); Bryce Henderson (OT, South Dakota); Isaia Glass (OT, Oklahoma State); CJ Heard (S, FAU)
Notable losses: Steven Losoya (C, UDFA); Quincy Skinner (WR, UDFA); De’Rickey Wright (S, grad.); CJ Taylor (S, grad)
Notable coaching change: Steve Gregory (defensive coordinator)
The success of Vanderbilt’s offseason is because of its retention.
Per ESPN, the Commodores return 78% of their offensive production and 77% of their defensive production from last season — both top-seven marks in the FBS.
The most obvious target area in the transfer portal was along the offensive line. White, Henderson and Glass each look likely to take over starting spots in offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s scheme. That’s an important spot for the Commodores, who run a system not too far removed from the spread option.
Pavia ran for 800 yards and eight touchdowns in the scheme last season. Returning running back Sedrick Alexander went for 586 yards and six scores. The more physical they can be up front, the better the Commodores will be.
Defensively, Lea is handing the play-calling duties over to Steve Gregory, who was Vandy’s secondary coach last season.
With two starting safeties now graduated, the Commodores have some questions to answer in the secondary — a frequent problem area last season.
Early forecast for Mizzou at Vanderbilt
Don’t get it twisted: This is a game Missouri should win. But it’s also absolutely a game that MU fans should not consider a given.
Pavia seems to have that invaluable asset for a quarterback of his presence translating to wins. It had been more than a decade since the ’Dores had won seven games and a bowl matchup — a streak that ended with the rough-and-tumble quarterback arriving on campus.
Getting players like Stowers and wide receiver Junior Sherrill can only help them out. The Commodores avoided getting gutted in the transfer portal and made some meaningful — if not earth-shattering — additions to a very solid foundation.
It took Mizzou double-overtime to get past the Vandy team on Faurot Field last season. Some busted plays from the MU defense and kicking issues prolonged the inevitable a little, but the Tigers still had to grind out a win.
The way this Vanderbilt team is assembled, it’s going to take every ounce of that grit all over again.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
