Power ranking the SEC after week 11: 8 - Vanderbilt
The Commodores have kept their playoff hopes alive as well thanks to an overtime win against the Auburn Tigers, but while that keeps them afloat in the race for the 12-team field, it is the second straight performance that drops them in these rankings. Though their offensive performance against the Tigers was pretty stellar given the quality of the defense they were facing, their own defense continues to be a big question mark.
The 'Dores allowed Auburn to far exceed what they normally average when it comes to both points per play and points per drive in this one, and they had no answer for guys like Cam Coleman and Jeremiah Cobb. Ashton Daniels looked completely hopeless against Kentucky last week, but he was dealing against this Vandy unit.
At some point, even with a team like Vandy that is so experienced and fundamentally sound, you start to see that the quality of player doesn't measure up. That's how things like a 75-yard screen pass for a touchdown can happen on the first play of the game.
Diego Pavia is the heart and soul of this Vanderbilt team, without a doubt, and as long as he's behind center, they'll be in any and every game. If they can close strong against Kentucky and Tennessee, they're right in the middle of the playoff discussion, but lacking a marquee win at this point could knock them down a peg or two.