Vanderbilt looked into playing 13th game to boost CFP case, per report
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The Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2, 6-2 SEC) just finished their first-ever double-digit win regular season. The Commodores absorbed losses to only Alabama and Texas — both on the road — this year, but have practically no chance at reaching the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns (9-3, 6-2 SEC) passed them in the penultimate CFP rankings despite having an extra loss on their ledger.
Clark Lea and Diego Pavia believe Vanderbilt should be in the CFP with its current resume. They can see the reality of their situation, but they’re not taking it lying down. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Commodores, “explored the possibility of playing an exempt 13th game this weekend as a way to give one final showcase for the College Football Playoff.”
College football teams are allowed to play an official 13th regular-season game if they play 1 of their typical 12 contests in Hawaii. The Commodores would have had to convince another CFP bubble team — like Miami or Utah — to battle them, then coordinate both stadium availability and a flight to Hawaii for nearly 100 people — if not more — in record time to make this work. Any theoretical opponent would have had to do the same. It’s borderline impossible to execute such a plan on limited notice, but Lea isn’t kidding around.
Yesterday, Pavia called upon President Trump to force the CFP into a 16-team event via executive order. Unfortunately, that’s less feasible than a trip to Hawaii on 2 days’ notice. As a result, the Commodores will have to say aloha to their 2025 CFP chances.
