Game 3 Preview: Scouting the Vanderbilt Commodores

A date that has been circled on many a calendar in Nashville, Tennessee, is now just one day away.

Having swept through the first two games of their respective non-conference schedules, both South Carolina and Vanderbilt are heading into Saturday’s matchup looking to begin their SEC slate of games in the win column.

Before the contest kicks off at 7:45 p.m. on the SEC Network, here’s what the Commodores bring to the table.

Get GamecockCentral for $1 your first week. As a bonus, your membership includes a complimentary year of The Athletic.

How they got here

Vanderbilt has followed up a campaign during which it earned bowl eligibility for the first time in six years and Clark Lea was named SEC Coach of the Year with a strong start to 2025.

The Commodores kicked off the season with a matchup against FCS opponent Charleston Southern at FirstBank Stadium. The game went about as expected, as Vanderbilt dominated in a 45-3 win over the Buccanneers.

A road matchup against Virginia Tech — the same team the Gamecocks defeated 24-11 in Atlanta to open their campaign — followed. Despite heading into the matchup as three-point underdogs, the Commodores rode a strong second half to a 44-20 victory in Blacksburg.

Last time out

The Gamecocks were looking to make November a month to remember the last time they faced the Commodores. South Carolina had begun a two-game winning streak after defeating Oklahoma on the road and then-No. 10 Texas A&M at home. A victory over Vanderbilt, an opponent the Gamecocks beat the last 15 times the two teams met, would also grant them bowl eligibility.

That’s exactly what happened in what Lea would describe after the game as a “three-phase ass-kinking.”

It took South Carolina until the second quarter to score its first points, but it maintained control of the result the rest of the way. Rocket Sanders led the offense with three touchdowns (two on the ground, and one in the air) and 178 total yards, while LaNorris Sellers had a strong night (14-of-20 passing, 238 yards, two touchdowns) in a 28-7 win.

Where they sit in the rankings

The Commodores are not ranked in either the AP or USA Today Coaches polls. They did, however, receive votes in both. Vanderbilt received one vote in the AP poll (placing it tied for 41st in the country if the rankings extended beyond 25 teams) and seven in the USA Today Coaches poll (also in 41st).

In ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI), Vanderbilt ranked No. 28 with a 10.2 FPI. Their projected record is 6.8-5.2. The team has an 84.9 percent chance of winning six games, a 0.4 percent chance of winning the SEC and a 10.5 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff this season.

In ESPN’s SP+ rankings, the Commodores check in at No. 38 with a score of 10.3.

Vanderbilt sits 34th in the Massey Ratings. It ranks 41st in offense and 52nd in defense.

ESPN gives the Commodores a 34.9 percent chance to win this weekend. Vanderbilt heads into the contest as 3.5-point underdogs, according to ESPN BET Sportsbook.

Players to watch

Diego Pavia (Graduate student, quarterback) — Pavia is heading into Saturday’s game with a head of steam. He claimed on an episode of “Bussin’ With The Boys” this summer to have circled this weekend’s matchup on his calendar, and he also recently told popular streamer IShowSpeed that the Gamecocks are “in the way of the mission” in a viral moment. He still hasn’t let those off-field comments slow down his production on it, though. Through two games, Pavia has completed 74.4 percent (32-of-43) of his pass attempts for five touchdowns and one interception.

Nicholas Rinaldi (Senior, linebacker) — Rinaldi was a monster behind the defensive line in Vanderbilt’s win over the Hokies. The reigning Co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week, he logged six total tackles (four solo), 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack against Virginia Tech. Rinaldi didn’t play football until his senior year of high school before walking on with the Commodores in 2022.

Martel Hight (Junior, cornerback/punt returner) — Hight has shown the danger he possesses on both defense and special teams. He has seven total tackles (five solo) in 0.5 tackles for loss this year, but he also intercepted two passes in 2024. Hight landed a spot on the All-SEC Second Team for his work as a punter returner last season, too.

Path to victory

First-quarter offense hasn’t been South Carolina’s specialty in its first two games of 2025. The Gamecocks have scored just seven points during the first period of play, all of which came on their initial drive of the campaign. They may have been able to wait until the second quarter to score against Vanderbilt last year, but this year’s squad is hungry for revenge. That makes a quick start key to victory.

Pavia also hasn’t changed his play style much since that defeat last November. He is running slightly less often this year than he did last year (9.5 rushing attempts per game, compared to 14.8 in 2024). But he has remained an effective runner, gaining 105 yards on 19 attempts (5.5 yards per carry) through two contests. Because of this, the Gamecocks’ defense will need to prepare for his dual-threat tendencies.

What will be most important for South Carolina, though, is blocking out the noise. Most players have likely seen Pavia’s podcast appearance, where he called out the Gamecocks. Another one of his teammates, offensive tackle Bryce Henderson, went as far as to guarantee a Vanderbilt victory. Saturday’s matchup is setting up to be a potentially chippy one, and it’ll be on the coaching staff to ensure players remain level-headed over the course of the night.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!