How it Happened: Vanderbilt Football Blows out Charleston Southern in Week 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Saturday night's ’game against Charleston Southern was a sold out season-opener for Vanderbilt football, which is representative of the vibe around the program heading into the new season. The Commodores were coming off a 7-6 season in which it saw its best year since 2013, as it won the 2024 Birmingham Bowl over Georgia Tech.

At this point, that might as well be ancient history. It's a fresh start for all 134 FBS teams that all have their own goals it wants to accomplish. This season, Vanderbilt is not only looking to pick up where it left off, but the Commodores have aspirations of playing themselves into the postseason.

There's a lot of familiar faces for fans. Vanderbilt returned 70 percent of its production from a year ago. With an extra year of experience under the belt of its leaders, the coaching staff is hoping that will translate into an even better team than last season.

Charleston Southern came into Nashville playing with house money. While the Buccaneers were a 37.5-point underdog, they weren't worrying about that. They knew they had a chance to spoil the start of Vanderbilt’s season. Charleston Southern finished 1-11 last fall, but is hoping a new offense behind offensive coordinator Seth Strickland will bring Charleston Southern up the ranks of the FCS.

Kickoff between Vanderbilt and Charleston Southern is scheduled for 6:02 p.m. CT. Follow the live blog here for live updates.

Live Blog

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4th Quarter

FINAL: Vanderbilt starts the season strong with a 45-3 win over Charleston Southern.

Charleston Southern kicks a huge field goal with seven seconds left to cut the lead to 42. 45-3 Vanderbilt.

At the two-minute mark, Charleston Southern converts a 4th and 14 and moves the chains to the 25-yard line.

This is total domination all night long from Vanderbilt. Running back Jamezell Lassiter runs it in from 35 yards out. 45-0 Vanderbilt.

Brock Taylor splits the uprights and makes it 38-0 with just under 12 minutes to go

3rd Quarter

Backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz in the game now as the third quater expires. Great news seeing the backups start to get live game reps.

Capers sacks Osbourne and Sydnor comes up with a big fumble recovery. Vanderbilt ball on the +45-yard line.

Vanderbilt has this game all but sealed now. MK Young runs four yards up the middle for a touchdown. 35-0 Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt forces another three-and-out on defense and is now on the brink of the red zone as Charleston Southern shanks a punt 10 yards.

The second half has begun and Vanderbilt's starters are still out on the field. Will be interesting to see how long they are in the game, but a quick three-and-out certainly helps.

2nd Quarter

HALFTIME: Back-to-back holding penalty prevents further scoring, but the Commodores go into the locker room with a comfortable 28-0 lead. Great effort offensively and defensively for Vanderbilt as it did exactly what it needed to do.

Somehow Richie Hoskins found himself wide open at the 10-yard line and ran it in for a touchdown, but a holding penalty brings the score back.

Stowers just carried four guys with him down yards down the field. Vanderbilt gets into plus territory with 27 seconds.

Charleston Southern calls timeout on 4th and 1 with a minute left in the half and decides to punt out of the timeout. Vandy could try to go down the field one last time this quarter.

Wow what pitch and catch from Pavia to Alexander in the end zone there. Pavia threw it in a place where only Alexander could go up and get it. Just like that, it is 28-0 Vanderbilt.

Trent Hudson sees his first target of the night on a downfield pass, but was interfered with. Unfortunately for Vanderbilt, an offensive holding canceled out the PI.

Vanderbilt's defense just swarms the Charleston Southern offense and Khordae Sydnor bats down a pass and forces a punt. Vanderbilt with possibly its final possession of the half coming up. Scoring before the break would certainly create reason to put in the backups in the second half.

Vanderbilt nearly gets Charleston Southern to jump offsides on fourth down, but they don't get the call. Vanderbilt ends up punting after the drive stalls at midfield. Still up 21-0 with six minutes to go before half.

Vanderbilt forces another three-and-out on defense. The Commodores are taking Charleston Southern seriously and not taking any chances.

Pavia pitches it left to AJ Newberry and he walks in for a touchdown. It's 21-0 Vanderbilt with the successful PAT. The drive started a little slow, but a couple big plays creates another socring opportunity for the 'Dores.

Sedrick Alexander with an insane hurdle over a Charleston Southern defender and the Commodores are back in the red zone yet again.

1st Quarter

Tre Richardson could slowly be climbing the depth chart toward the top spot in the receiver room with his performance tonight. Showing off his speed and moves as he gets his third and fourth catches. Vanderbilt has a first down into Charleston Southern territory as the first quarter ends.

FAU transfer C.J Heard gets his first interception as a Commodore. Stops a Charleston Southern drive that got into plus territory. Nicely done on a diving grab, too.

Junior Sherrill catches a touchdown pass from Pavia on a slant route. 14-0 Commodores after Brock Taylor's extra point. Another drive where Vanderbilt just looks bigger, faster and stronger than its opponent. It needed a quick start and that is exactly what it happening.

Pavia delivers a dot to Eli Stowers down the sideline and the Commodores go to the 12-yard line quickly.

Great effort by the defense right there, forcing a three-and-out immediately. Charleston Southern punts, but it doesn't go a long way. The Commodores will have the ball on their own 47-yard line.

Vanderbilt went down the field at will that first drive. Absolutely no struggle moving the ball early, which is a great sign for the Commodores.

Diego Pavia does quick jet sweep pass to Kayleb Barnett for a touchdown. 7-0 Vanderbilt after Taylor's extra point.

Tre Richardson gets two quick catches and has Vanderbilt in business first and goal at the nine-yard line.

Vanderbilt starts the game with three runs on its first four plays. Down to the Charleston Southern 41-yard line.

Pregame

Student section has filled up quite a lot this evening as Vanderbilt runs out onto the field. Vanderbilt will be on offense to start the game.

Pretty cool thing here: celebrity comedian Theo Von is in the house for tonight's game.

Defensive lineman Yilanan Ouattara does not look like he will end up playing tonight. He is without a helmet and pads, per Dylan Tovitz and Joey Dwyer's on-the-field observations. Ouattara was previously said to be doubtful by Clark Lea earlier this week.

With just under a hour before kick, the Commodores have arrived on the field in uniform and have begun stretching.

The vibe certainly feels different today compared to past season-openers. Plenty of tailgates and fans out and about getting ready for tonight's game.

Both teams warming up on the field now as we hit 90 minutes before kickoff. The student section has begun to fill up in what is expected to be a sold out crowd at FirstBank Stadium tonight.

Weather Report

It is a nice, warm day for an opening night game. It is currently 88 degrees during pregame with temperature being 84 at kickoff. There is barely a cloud in the sky as the sun beats down on the field as sunset approaches. There is not any rain in the forecast as temperatures are expected to go down into the low 70s by the end of the night.