Alabama Visits Vanderbilt Amid SEC Title Debate

No. 3 Alabama (7-2), coming off a 31-13 win at LSU, visits 4-5 Vanderbilt, which snapped a five-game losing streak, seeking to avoid another upset in Nashville. Senior Austin Mack is expected to start at quarterback while Keelon Russell rests an ankle injury, though Russell is expected to be available. Vanderbilt upset Alabama in 2024, before the Crimson Tide beat the Commodores at home last season. Alabama’s defensive resilience has helped offset a struggling ground game, and coordinators have stressed improving the run and staying focused after the LSU win. Coach Kalen DeBoer says Alabama wants to compete for the SEC title; commentary has debated the championship game’s prestige and playoff-seeding value against the injury risks and preparation demands of a trip to Atlanta.