Vanderbilt once again finds itself entering a road matchup as the underdog, determined to prove it belongs in the national conversation.
Fresh off a gritty win at Virginia Tech — where they pulled off a 24-20 upset as a 1.5-point underdog — the Commodores (2-0) are still struggling to earn national recognition. Oddsmakers initially listed them as an 8.5-point underdog for Saturday’s showdown at South Carolina, though the line has since tightened to around 4–5 points.
Senior offensive tackle Bryce Henderson didn’t shy away from making bold statements this week. “Nobody really talks about the Commodores, and I think after we go in there and show these guys what’s what, I think people are going to open their eyes up a little bit for sure,” Henderson told reporters, his confidence evident.
Henderson credited Virginia Tech’s physical defensive front with giving Vanderbilt the right preparation for what they’ll see against the Gamecocks. When asked specifically about South Carolina’s standout edge rusher Dylan Stewart, Henderson was blunt. “He’s whatever,” Henderson said. “It’s not about him. It’s about us.”
Stewart, however, has quickly built a reputation as a difference-maker. The sophomore already has 2 sacks and 7 quarterback pressures through two games, following up a freshman season where he tallied 6.5 sacks while playing opposite SEC sack leader Kyle Kennard. Vanderbilt’s offensive line, meanwhile, has held strong so far, allowing just 1 sack and 7 total quarterback pressures this season.
For Henderson, the focus remains inward. “Obviously, it would mean a lot (to win). We’re not focused on that,” he said. “All we know is we’re gonna play our football, and we know that we can beat them and we’re gonna go in there and do it.”
History suggests the Commodores embrace the underdog role well. Vanderbilt is 2-0 against the spread (ATS) so far in 2025, after going 9-4 ATS last season. Under head coach Clark Lea, the Commodores are 10-2 ATS as underdogs in their last 12 tries — with six outright upsets during that stretch.
