Vanderbilt earns highest ranking in AP poll in nearly 90 years
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
In 1937, Franklin Roosevelt was the president of the United States. The Golden Gate Bridge was completed. And Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made its debut in theaters.
It was also the last time Vanderbilt was ranked inside the top 10 of the AP poll — at No. 7, in fact.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Commodores have reached heights not seen in Nashville’s West End in generations. They defeated Mizzou on Saturday to move to 7-1 on the season and a step closer to a stunning first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
They’re also No. 9 in the AP poll. That’s their highest ranking in 88 years.
Vandy has a trip to Texas coming up before hosting Auburn and Kentucky. It then wraps up against in-state foe Tennessee. So a nine-win campaign, its first since 2012 and 2013, is very much in play. The Commodores have never won 10 games in a season.
If the Commodores end up beating the Longhorns in Austin, they’ll likely position themselves to project as an at-large Playoff team when the initial CFP rankings are released on Nov. 4.
Clark Lea has worked wonders at his alma mater. It’s hard to believe this was a 2-win team in 2021 and 2023. But the Commodores continue to make new believers every week.
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.
