The Vanderbilt Commodores were the worst team in the SEC this past season. The Commodores went winless in conference games and finished with a 3-9 overall record during Derek Mason’s first season as head coach.

But there is hope in Nashville. Vanderbilt looked like an improved team during the season’s second half, despite a poor record and several blowout losses.

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The Commodores entered last week’s game against Tennessee as 17-point underdogs. Instead, Vanderbilt forced two interceptions and held the Vols to 92 yards passing in a 7-point loss.

Saturday’s team looked far superior to the one on the field during a 37-7  loss to Temple in Week 1. But Vanderbilt’s young team needed the experience of a full SEC season, as many of the Commodores’ best players were redshirt freshmen and underclassmen.

Vanderbilt should benefit from the earned experience of playing its young roster during a down season as it moves forward in its rebuilding process. The Commodores ended their season with 10 freshman starters, including quarterback Johnny McCrary, who provided the team with its most efficient passing performance of 2014.

McCrary led Vanderbilt to a 42-28 victory in Week 10, its largest win-margin of the season. The redshirt freshman threw for a season-best 281 yards and tied the school record for touchdown passes (5).

McCrary also played solid against eventual SEC East champion Missouri in Week 9. He threw for 196 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, despite facing constant pressure from a tough Missouri pass rush.

Despite its poor record, Vanderbilt showed vast improvements down the stretch and should be a better team in 2015. Mason needs to focus on his core nucleus of young talent including McCrary, Ralph Webb and Nigel Bowden as the foundation in the team’s rebuilding process. The Commodores are down, but not out, and could be an underestimated program next season that surprises opponents.