Vanderbilt finds itself in new territory this season

There's Vanderbilt, and then there's the rest of the Southeastern Conference.

For years, the perception has been that the Commodores lagged well behind the rest of their conference foes. They've been to just one bowl game since 1983, when they went 7-6 in 2008.
But this year, Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-5 SEC) has already won as many games as in the last two years combined, and they've pushed several upper-tier opponents to the brink. The Commodores have lost to Georgia, Arkansas and Florida by a combined 13 points in the first year under new head coach James Franklin.
"Vanderbilt is obviously a completely different team than what we've seen in recent years," senior linebacker Ronnie Sneed said. "They can hurt us in the pass and the run."
Junior tailback Zac Stacy is sixth in the conference with 756 rushing yards this year and is averaging a whopping 6.9 yards per carry.
But the Vanderbilt offense didn't really take off until junior Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, took over midway under center through the season. He's a dual-threat quarterback who passed for 297 yards against Florida, but has also hurt defenses with his legs.
"We've had to face this kind of guy the last four weeks really, a guy that could run the zone read, run some option, get on the perimeter, also a dual guy that can throw the football," Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips said. "He probably throws the football better than the other dual guys we've seen. He's definitely a guy you have to be concerned with."
Phillips has gotten to know Franklin over the years. Both were named head-coaches-in-waiting before getting their first coaching job, though Franklin left Maryland to coach the Commodores.
They find themselves in a similar situation again this year. Kentucky (4-5, 1-4 SEC) also needs two more wins to become bowl-eligible, and with dates against Georgia and Tennessee still left, a win on Saturday would be huge. Vanderbilt still has to face Tennessee and Wake Forest after Kentucky.