The 2025 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores were led by Clark Lea in his fifth year as their head coach. The Commodores played their home games at FirstBank Stadium located in Nashville, Tennessee.
After defeating No. 11 South Carolina 31âÂÂ7, Vanderbilt started 3âÂÂ0 for the first time since 2017 and beat South Carolina for the first time since 2008, snapping a 16-game losing streak to the Gamecocks. This marked the first season since 1930 that Vanderbilt won each of their first three games by over 20 points. Vanderbilt's 70âÂÂ21 victory over Georgia State marked the most points scored in a game by Vanderbilt since 1918. A 55âÂÂ35 win over Utah State marked Vanderbilt's first 5âÂÂ0 start since 2008.
Vanderbilt appeared on College GameDay against No. 10 Alabama, Vanderbilt's first GameDay appearance since 2008 and second all-time. The lone prior GameDay appearance was a 14âÂÂ13 upset win over Auburn. Despite this, the Crimson Tide avenged their stunning loss against the Commodores the year prior, winning the game 30âÂÂ14. Vanderbilt later appeared on GameDay again against No. 15 Missouri, making 2025 Vanderbilt's first ever season with multiple GameDay appearances. Vanderbilt would go on to defeat Missouri 17âÂÂ10.
After defeating No. 10 LSU, Vanderbilt was ranked No. 10, making it the first time they have been ranked in the top ten on an AP poll since their No. 10 ranking during the 1947 season. This win also marked Vanderbilt's best start since 1950 at 6âÂÂ1 and the Commodores became bowl eligible for a second consecutive season.
In the final week of the regular, Vanderbilt defeated No. 19 Tennessee 45âÂÂ24, finished the regular season 10âÂÂ2. This marked Vanderbilt's first win over Tennessee since 2018 and the first 10-win season in program history. A few days later, on December 2, Vanderbilt managed to flip the commitment of five-star quarterback Jared Curtis from Georgia, making him the highest-ranked signing in program history.
The Vanderbilt Commodores drew an average home attendance of 34,813, the 64th-highest of all college football teams.
Following a victory in the 2024 Birmingham Bowl that capped off a relatively successful 7âÂÂ6 season, quarterback Diego Pavia announced his intention to return to Vanderbilt for the 2025 season on December 29, 2024.
The SEC released its preseason prediction poll on July 18, 2025. The Commodores were predicted to finish 13th in the conference and also received two first-place votes.