DeBoer Warns Alabama Not to Underestimate Vanderbilt

Alabama’s last trip to Vanderbilt ended in an upset, and coach Kalen DeBoer said his team remembers the 2024 loss as it prepares to return to Nashville on Saturday. “It didn’t go so well,” he said of that game.

DeBoer said Vanderbilt’s close games against strong opponents suggest the Commodores deserve more attention, despite their difficult season. He pointed to a loss to Ole Miss that got out of hand, while saying other matchups stayed tight into the first, second or third quarter.

Vanderbilt enters the game after earning its first SEC win of the season, beating Mississippi State 25-23 on the road. The Commodores ran for 160 yards and made key defensive stops. Alabama is fresh from a heartfelt victory that has strengthened its position in projected playoff discussions.

Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis is among the players Vanderbilt will rely on. Against Mississippi State, he avoided an interception in SEC play for the first time, though he lost a fumble while being sacked early in the second half. Curtis has thrown for 1,657 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.

DeBoer praised Curtis’s arm and said his growing experience is helping him move the chains more consistently. He said Alabama must be ready for the trip, adding that the team and staff know what happened the last time they played in Nashville.