The 2026 Vanderbilt Commodores football schedule features 12 games under sixth-year head coach Clark Lea, including seven home games at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville and the SEC’s new nine-game conference slate. The season closes on November 28 with Tennessee visiting Nashville in what has become one of the more competitive SEC rivalry games in recent years. Game times and TV broadcast details are listed as TBD and will be updated once the SEC releases its official broadcast schedule.
2026 Vanderbilt Commodores Football
Clark Lea enters his sixth season leading the Commodores in 2026, coming off a 2025 campaign where Vanderbilt showed it could compete at the top of the SEC. Lea’s program has steadily built on a foundation of player development and disciplined play, and the 2026 schedule gives the Commodores an opportunity to build early momentum with three home non-conference games before conference play begins. Austin Peay (Sep 5), Delaware (Sep 12), and NC State (Sep 19) all come to Nashville to open the year, giving Vanderbilt a favorable start before the SEC slate kicks off on September 26 at Auburn.
The bye week falls on October 31, positioned between the road game at Kentucky (Oct 24) and the trip to Mississippi State (Nov 7). The back half of the schedule is demanding, with Alabama coming to Nashville on November 14 followed by road trips to Florida and then the Tennessee home finale. The Commodores have seven home games in all, including four of their five SEC home contests in October and November, giving fans in Nashville a strong dose of conference football late in the year.
For the latest roster moves and program news, visit the Vanderbilt Commodores Football official athletics site.
2026 Vanderbilt Football Schedule
| Week | Date | Time | Opponent | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5, 2026 | TBD | Austin Peay (Home) | TBD |
| 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | TBD | Delaware (Home) | TBD |
| 3 | Sep 19, 2026 | TBD | NC State (Home) | TBD |
| 4 | Sep 26, 2026 | TBD | @ Auburn | TBD |
| 5 | Oct 3, 2026 | TBD | @ Georgia | TBD |
| 6 | Oct 10, 2026 | TBD | Ole Miss (Home) | TBD |
| 7 | Oct 17, 2026 | TBD | Arkansas (Home) | TBD |
| 8 | Oct 24, 2026 | TBD | @ Kentucky | TBD |
| BYE | Oct 31, 2026 | – | BYE WEEK | – |
| 10 | Nov 7, 2026 | TBD | @ Mississippi State | TBD |
| 11 | Nov 14, 2026 | TBD | Alabama (Home) | TBD |
| 12 | Nov 21, 2026 | TBD | @ Florida | TBD |
| 13 | Nov 28, 2026 | TBD | Tennessee (Home) | TBD |
Game times and TV/streaming information are TBD. This page will be updated when the SEC releases its official broadcast schedule.
More 2026 College Football Resources
Vanderbilt is one of 16 SEC programs competing in 2026. For a full look at every team’s slate, check out the complete SEC Football Schedule, which includes printable grids for every program from Alabama to Vanderbilt.
The path to a national championship runs through the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The full breakdown of the 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule covers every round, site, and bracket format for the season.
2026 Vanderbilt Football FAQ
Who is Vanderbilt’s head football coach in 2026?
Clark Lea is the head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2026, his sixth season leading the program. Lea played linebacker at Vanderbilt and returned as head coach in 2021, steadily building the program’s competitiveness in the SEC.
How many home games does Vanderbilt have in 2026?
Vanderbilt plays seven home games at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville in 2026. Home opponents include Austin Peay, Delaware, NC State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee.
When is Vanderbilt’s bye week in 2026?
Vanderbilt’s bye week is October 31, 2026, falling between the road game at Kentucky (Oct 24) and the road game at Mississippi State (Nov 7). The break gives the staff a full week to prepare for the demanding final stretch of the schedule.
When will Vanderbilt’s game times and TV channels be announced?
The SEC and its broadcast partners – ESPN, ABC, and SEC Network – typically release game times and TV assignments on a rolling basis, usually 6-12 days before each game. This page will be updated as kickoff times and broadcast details are confirmed.
When do Vanderbilt and Tennessee play in 2026?
Vanderbilt hosts Tennessee on November 28, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville to close the regular season. The rivalry game is one of the longest-running in college football and carries significant SEC standing implications each year.
