The Tennessee–Vanderbilt rivalry has always been heated, but with Vanderbilt no longer being a bottom-feeder program, the rivalry has only gotten more intense in football. The Vols lost to what was probably the best Vanderbilt team ever last November, and they’ll be looking to get revenge this fall.
Tennessee’s quarterback situation is being viewed as a major question by ESPN
Clark Lea has done a solid job at Vanderbilt. In five years, he is 26–37, but he is coming off a 10-win season, the first in program history. It took time to build things up, but he has made real progress. Lea even flipped a five-star quarterback from Georgia. The head man has done some really nice things in Nashville, but he's been getting a little ahead of himself lately. He still only has one win against Tennessee, but it’s fair to respect the job he has done turning Vanderbilt around.
However, Lea has some very bold (and hilarious) takes ahead of next season. He said:
“I didn’t come to Vanderbilt for a 10 win season, I came to win a national championship.” Lea also said he was in favor of a College Football Playoff expansion. “As many as we can have and make it make sense," said Lea. "I don't have a specific number. An expanded playoff would be great.”
Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea: “I didn’t come to Vanderbilt for a 10 win season, I came to win a national championship.”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 26, 2026
Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea on how many teams should be in the College Football Playoff: “As many as we can have and make it make sense. I don't have a specific number. An expanded playoff would be great.”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 26, 2026
Clark Lea is delusional
Not only are Vanderbilt fans delusional, but apparently, their head coach is too. Thinking you can win a national title at Vanderbilt is crazy. Plus, wanting to expand the college football playoffs is the dumbest idea I have ever heard. And for the record, I’m not a fan of Josh Heupel being in favor of expanding the playoffs as well. But ultimately, Clark Lea is a solid coach, but there is absolutely no chance he brings a national title to Nashville, and his being in favor of an expanded playoff just makes me even more mad.
There is only so much you can do at a private school with limited funding . Vanderbilt is not a championship program, and it never has been. If Lea really thinks he can win a national title there, he is probably lying to himself. On the other hand, it probably wouldn’t come off very well if he just went up to the podium and said, “There is no way I ever win anything here,” so I don’t hate the confidence, but let’s be real. Wait, I actually do think he can win a national title... On his Xbox.
On a serious note, Vanderbilt will be trotting out a freshman quarterback, just like Tennessee did next year, and I’m not really sure they can rebound after last year. Heck, if they couldn’t win with an almost Heisman quarterback, are they ever going to win? That was probably their best shot ever, and they didn’t even make the playoffs. I understand where he is coming from, at the end of the day, but for a program that just hit double-digit wins for the first time ever, I don’t think it’s very likely that they ever hold up the hardware. I appreciate his confidence, though. Go Big Orange.
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