FBS-CFB Game Preview: Utah State Aggies (3-1) vs. #20 Vanderbilt Commodores (4-0)

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Venue & Game Details

Kickoff Time: 12:45 PM ET / 11:45 AM CT

Venue: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Capacity: ~40,550

Broadcast: SEC Network

Weather Forecast (Nashville, TN)

Kickoff Temperature: ~82°F (28°C)

Conditions: Mostly sunny, humid

Wind: 7–10 mph from the south

Precipitation: ~15% chance of scattered showers

Impact: Warm, sticky conditions typical of early fall in Tennessee; stamina and depth could matter late.

Injury Report

Utah State Aggies:

QB Bryson Barnes – healthy, 982 yards, 8 TDs, 1 INT; also 197 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs.

RB Miles Davis – healthy, 310 yards, 2 TDs.

WR Braden Pegan – healthy, 303 yards, 3 TDs.

WR Brady Boyd – healthy, 274 yards, 2 TDs.

LB John Miller – healthy, 32 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 sacks.

Vanderbilt Commodores:

QB Diego Pavia – healthy, 890 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs; also 215 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD.

RB Sedrick Alexander – healthy, 210 yards, 4 TDs.

RB Makhilyn Young – healthy, 187 yards, 3 TDs.

WR Junior Sherrill – healthy, 134 yards, 2 TDs.

LB Nicholas Rinaldi – healthy, 13 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks.

Key Player Matchups

Bryson Barnes (USU QB) vs. Vanderbilt Secondary

Barnes is a dual-threat QB with 14 total TDs.

Vanderbilt’s defense allows just 12.8 ppg and ranks top-25 nationally.

Diego Pavia (Vandy QB) vs. Utah State Front Seven

Pavia is completing nearly 74% of passes and adds a rushing dimension.

Utah State allows 178 rushing ypg (112th nationally).

Miles Davis (USU RB) vs. Commodores Run Defense

Davis averaging 7.0 ypc.

Vanderbilt allows just 69.8 rushing ypg (12th nationally).

Braden Pegan (USU WR) vs. Vandy Corners

Pegan is averaging 75.8 ypg.

Commodores’ secondary has 8 takeaways in 4 games.

Recent Team Form

Utah State Aggies (3–1)

W 48–7 vs. McNeese (Week 4)

W 34–20 vs. Air Force (Week 3)

W 27–17 vs. UTEP (Week 2)

L 22–44 @ Texas A&M (Week 1)

Strengths: Balanced offense (246 pass ypg, 181 rush ypg).

Weaknesses: Run defense (178 ypg allowed).

Vanderbilt Commodores (4–0)

W 70–21 vs. Georgia State (Week 4)

W 38–17 vs. South Carolina (Week 3)

W 34–20 vs. Virginia Tech (Week 2)

W 45–7 vs. Charleston Southern (Week 1)

Strengths: Explosive offense (47.5 ppg, 6th nationally).

Weaknesses: Penalties (72.8 ypg, 117th nationally).

Conference vs. Conference

Utah State: Mountain West

Vanderbilt: SEC

A rare non-conference clash with Vanderbilt heavily favored at home.

Series History

All-time series: First-ever meeting between Utah State and Vanderbilt.

Betting Trends

Utah State Aggies:

4–0 ATS in 2025.

5–1 ATS in last 6 road games.

3 of 4 games have gone Over.

Vanderbilt Commodores:

4–0 ATS in 2025.

6–1 ATS in last 7 home games.

3 of 4 games have gone Over.

Historical Betting Results

No prior head-to-head betting history.

Vanderbilt has covered in all 4 games this season.

Utah State has also covered in all 4 games this season.

Game Odds

Utah State Aggies                            58.5

Vanderbilt Commodores              – 22.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025