ESPN’s FPI predicts winner of Texas vs. Vanderbilt Week 10 showdown
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
In 2024, Texas topped Vanderbilt 27-24 in Nashville.
That was a different Vanderbilt team. And, in many respects, this is a different Texas team, too.
The Longhorns, winners of their last three, face a Commodores program in the midst of one of its greatest-ever seasons. According to ESPN’s FPI, though, Texas is a heavy favorite to put a damper on things for Vandy. The Longhorns have been given a 70.5% chance to win.
It’s not been smooth sailing for the Longhorns a season after coming a win shy of a College Football Playoff National Championship Game appearance. But they’ve hit their stride in recent weeks. The key storyline, though, will be the health of Arch Manning, who is in concussion protocol after exiting late in Week 9’s overtime win at Mississippi State. If Manning can’t go, Steve Sarkisian will turn to fifth-year senior Matthew Caldwell, an offseason transfer from Troy.
The 9th-ranked Commodores, enjoying their highest spot in the polls in nearly nine decades, enter Saturday’s game at 7-1. If they can take down Texas, their path to the Playoff opens up considerably. They host Auburn in Week 11 before an open week, then welcome Kentucky to FirstBank Stadium before wrapping the season at Tennessee. It would also position them for a first 9-win season since 2013 and the program’s first-ever 10-win season.
Kickoff from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is set for noon ET. The game will be televised on ABC.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
