With a 7–1 record, Heisman candidate and coach who refuses to quit, the Commodores’ miracle season is rewriting what’s possible at the perennial doormat.

Vanderbilt football is still outside the top 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, moving up one spot to No. 11 after a 17-10 win over Missouri. The Commodores remained in the top 10 of the AP Poll, moving up one spot to No. 9.

Vanderbilt and QB Diego Pavia are third in the nation in average rushing yards per carry, and Texas is third in the nation against the run.

It wasn't pretty, but Vanderbilt held on for a 17–10 win that saw both teams turn the ball over and suffer more than 80 yards in penalties. In perhaps the most impactful moment of the game for Mizzou's longterm outlook, quarterback Beau Pribula left Saturday's game in a wheelchair, sporting an aircast.

Vanderbilt football is putting the finishing touches on its 2026 recruiting class ahead of the early signing period. The Commodores are taking advantage of a successful 2025 season by adding a handful of strong later commits. Vanderbilt is bowl eligible for the second straight year and has a shot at the College Football Playoff.

Week 9 of the college football season delivered everything fans crave — late-game heroics, improbable comebacks, and the kind of emotional swings that define the sport. From powerhouse programs to Division III showdowns,

Week 9 may have lacked the major upsets of previous weeks, but plenty of games played a key role in conference races and the CFP picture.

Elsewhere in the CBS Sports 136, we see some notable moves up for one-loss Big 12 teams Cincinnati (up four spots) and Houston (up seven spots), as each logged key wins in conference play over the weekend and continue to build their case as top-20 teams nationally with their 7-1 records.