No. 1 Auburn Faces Tough Test Against Vanderbilt Tonight

AUBURN, Ala. – The top-ranked Auburn Tigers (21-2, 9-1 SEC) are set to visit the Vanderbilt Commodores (17-6, 5-5 SEC) on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 6 p.m. CT as they aim to bounce back from their recent loss to Florida. The SEC matchup will be broadcast on SEC Network.

Following their first defeat in over two months, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl emphasizes the importance of learning from setbacks. “All I’ve got to do is show them the Florida-Vanderbilt game, which we will,” he stated. “It was a close game very late, and Vanderbilt physically hung in there with one of the most physical teams in our league.”

Historically, Memorial Gymnasium has presented challenges for the Tigers, though they have recently improved their performance against the Commodores. “We’ve won seven out of eight against Vanderbilt, and prior to that, we’d lost 13 in a row,” Pearl said. “It would be like if we asked Coach Freeze to coach our football team from the end zone. It’s very different for the players and coaches.”

Vanderbilt enters the game under the guidance of first-year head coach Mark Byington, who has successfully revamped the roster after last season’s struggles. “You can’t get nine guys out of the transfer portal unless you’re committed to NIL,” Pearl remarked, alluding to Vanderbilt’s dedication to leveraging NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agreements to attract talent.

Jason Edwards, a transfer from North Texas, leads the Commodores with an average of 17.6 points per game. “They’ve got a good team,” Pearl said. “Offensively, they’re really good. Defensively, they turn you over.”

Auburn’s All-American player, who returned from an ankle injury two weeks ago, has been instrumental in the team’s success. “He’ll play as many minutes as I can. I’ll play as hard as I can,” Pearl reflected on his determination. “Auburn family, not one ounce of that from him,” Pearl added, sharing his admiration for the player’s commitment to the team.

Auburn aims to extend their perfect 6-0 record in SEC road games with this matchup against a strong Vanderbilt team. The Tigers are motivated to improve their record of 21-2 overall and 9-1 in conference play.

In highlighting the physicality and competitiveness of the SEC, Pearl stated, “I’m 64 years old. I’ve never seen the league this good, and I’ve never seen it this physical.”

The game promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams vie for an important victory in the SEC. The crowd at Memorial Gymnasium is expected to play a crucial role, as Vanderbilt boasts a formidable home record of 12-1, including impressive wins over other ranked opponents.