Get to know: No. 16 Vanderbilt

For years, Vanderbilt football was the one game the rest of the SEC would circle on their schedule — not as a challenge, but as a confidence booster. It was a chance to rack up stats and give backups some playing time. Those days, however, are long gone.

When Auburn travels to Nashville on Saturday for a matchup against the Commodores, the Tigers will enter as underdogs, facing a Vanderbilt team that has flipped the script. Ranked No. 16 in the College Football Playoff poll, Vanderbilt has been one of the biggest surprises in the SEC this season. With the program’s first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff within reach, students, alumni, and the entire city of Nashville have rallied behind the team.

Once considered the SEC’s bottom feeder, Vanderbilt has become one of college football’s most inspiring stories. It will be no small task for DJ Durkin in his first game as Auburn’s head coach — his team must be ready to face a program that no longer accepts the role of the SEC underdog.

At the head of Vanderbilt’s turnaround is senior quarterback Diego Pavia. A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Pavia has been more than just the star quarterback for the Commodores — he’s been the heartbeat of the entire program. So far this season, Pavia has thrown for 2,063 yards and 18 touchdowns while also adding 501 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, making him the team’s leading rusher.

When asked about his quarterback, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said, “He’s the best player in college football.”

Pavia’s favorite target this season has been tight end Eli Stowers. Like Pavia, Stowers started his college career at New Mexico State, where the two began to build chemistry. Now on the biggest stage in the SEC, Pavia and Stowers haven’t skipped a beat.

This season, Stowers has hauled in 38 catches for 543 yards and four touchdowns, highlighted by a seven-catch, 146-yard, two-touchdown performance last week against Texas. Fueled by this connection, the Commodores have had one of college football’s most explosive offenses, currently averaging 37.5 points per game. And with how good Auburn’s defense has been — one of three teams yet to allow more than 24 points — something has to give Saturday.

While Vanderbilt’s offense has been firing so far this season, the defense has been inconsistent, especially against SEC opponents. The Commodores’ defense has allowed at least 30 points in three of their five SEC contests and is coming off a game where a struggling Texas offense scored 34 points on 428 yards of total offense.

However, the Commodores have shown flashes of being an elite unit, highlighted when they held then-No. 11 South Carolina to just seven points and forced multiple interceptions. Senior edge rusher Miles Capers has been a standout on defense, totaling 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble and fumble recovery, showcasing an all-around skill set as the captain of Vanderbilt’s defense.

Alongside junior linebacker Bryan Longwell, who has registered 46 tackles this season, Capers anchors a front seven that can wreak havoc on any given Saturday. And with all the offensive struggles Auburn has endured, Vanderbilt’s defense has a golden opportunity to get back on track — looking to make its presence felt early and often against the Tigers.

Saturday’s matchup in Nashville represents more than just a typical SEC game — it’s a battle between two programs heading in opposite directions. Vanderbilt is fed up with being the little brother of the SEC, and the nation is starting to take notice.

As legendary head coach Nick Saban said on “College GameDay,” “I’m jumping on the Vanderbilt bandwagon.” With a Heisman-level quarterback giving hope to a program that hasn’t had it in years, Auburn will have to give 110% to walk out with the upset. The Tigers-Commodores matchup should be thrilling for all 60 minutes.

Catch Auburn vs. Vanderbilt on Nov. 8 on ESPN. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CST.