Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates with Vanderbilt offensive lineman Jordan White (53) celebrate during Saturday's game between Vanderbilt and LSU at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Vanderbilt reaches its highest AP poll ranking in 78 years

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Oct 19, 2025 5:54 PM ET

The Vanderbilt Commodores are in uncharted territory for their football program. After Saturday's win over previously No. 10-ranked LSU, the Commodores not only showed they are legitimate SEC contenders, but they are also now a top-10 team in the entire country.

Vanderbilt reaches highest AP ranking since 1947

The Commodores will enter this week as the No. 10 in the country, making it the first time they have been in the top-10 since the 1947 season. The only time they have ever been higher was the 1937 season when they climbed as high as No. 7 in the country.

Vanderbilt fans aren't used to see any wins, let alone enough wins to be considered as one of the best teams in the country.

Coming into this season the Commodores had just one winning season (2024) since the 2014 campaign, and only six since 1975. Most of the program's success and winning records came prior to the 1950s. In other words, it's been a long time since Vanderbilt was in the national spotlight.

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— #10 Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 19, 2025

It is going to have a chance to keep climbing the rankings in the coming weeks. Vanderbilt's next two games are against ranked teams (No. 15 Missouri and No. 22 Texas), and if they can get through those it is going to put them in a prime position to really have a special season.

Its only loss this season was a tough road game at now-No. 4 Alabama. Other than that they have soundly beaten every team in front of them. No stage has been too big. No opponent has been too imposing.

The driving force behind the program turnaround has been quarterback Diego Pavia. After helping to put Vanderbilt back on the map a year ago, he has come back even better this season and enters this week with 15 touchdown passes to only four interceptions, while also rushing for an additional 438 yards (leading the team) and four more rushing touchdowns.

Along with the numbers, he has also been mostly clutch (outside of the Alabama game where his costly red zone turnovers were the difference in the game) and brought a winning attitude and swagger that Vanderbilt has never had.

Now he has them competing for the SEC championship and a potential College Football Playoff appearance.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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