Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs the ball in the course of the recreation between Vanderbilt College and Louisiana State College at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea texted a request to Missouri counterpart Eli Drinkwitz earlier this season.
His ask: May the Tigers cease scoring a lot?
On Saturday, Lea and his gamers could have a direct say on the matter because the Tenth-ranked Commodores host the No. 15 Tigers in a Southeastern Convention showdown in Nashville.
A sellout crowd is predicted at FirstBank Stadium and the competition has attracted the eye of ESPN’s “School GameDay” pregame broadcast.
“We have created an excellent platform for this system,” Lea mentioned.
Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1 SEC) continues to climb the rankings and increase its profile behind versatile quarterback Diego Pavia, a Heisman hopeful who rushed for 2 scores and handed for an additional throughout final week’s 31-24 win in opposition to then-No. 10 LSU.
A New Mexico State switch, Pavia has handed for 15 touchdowns, simply 5 fewer than his debut season with the Commodores in 2024, whereas averaging a career-best 8.6 yards per try.
He additionally has stayed clear, getting sacked 5 occasions in 183 dropbacks in contrast with 18 in 298 final season.
Vanderbilt additionally ranks fourth in FBS with 6.3 yards per carry.
“I do suppose we’ve one of the best tackles within the SEC and the nation,” Vanderbilt offensive lineman Cade McConnell mentioned.
Missouri (6-1, 2-1) is eyeing its first street win in opposition to a Prime 10 foe since beating seventh-ranked Georgia on Oct. 12, 2013.
Saturday marks the primary time the 2 applications have met as ranked groups.
The Tigers are trending upward, too, following a slender residence loss to Alabama on Oct. 11. Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula confirmed poise in his first profession street begin the following week at Auburn, speeding for a 3-yard landing in double-overtime to key a 23-17 victory.
Pribula overcame two interceptions and three sacks by finishing 23 of 40 passes for 252 yards.
Regardless of a lower than stellar displaying from its runners at Auburn — 91 yards on 44 carries — the Tigers rank seventh in FBS with 245 yards on the bottom per recreation. Ahmad Hardy led the best way with a pair of touchdowns final week however gained simply 58 yards on 24 carries.
“We appeared timid,” Drinkwitz mentioned. “We appeared like we weren’t certain why we had been operating sure performs.”
Defensive finish Zion Younger registered two sacks and a couple of 1/2 tackles for loss at Auburn, incomes convention co-defensive lineman of the week honors. He’ll assist lead the hassle to maintain Pavia contained.
Comparatively talking, anyway.
Drinkwitz mentioned that whereas cellular quarterbacks are trending upward in faculty soccer, “I do not know that any of them are nearly as good on the improvisation as Diego. … He is a magician again there.”
Missouri stretched its sequence successful streak in opposition to Vanderbilt to 5 video games with final season’s 30-27 residence victory in two overtimes. The Tigers are 12-4-1 in opposition to the Commodores all-time.
–Discipline Degree Media
