Nick Saban breaks down what makes Vanderbilt a ‘better team’ than last year

Sep 21, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Clark Lea reacts during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Nick Saban went back into his coaching bag and gave his scouting report on Vanderbilt ahead of Alabama taking on the Commodores at home inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The College football Hall of Famer and former Crimson Tide head coach believes the Commodores are a better bunch this season than the team Alabama saw in Nashville a year ago.

“I haven’t watched Vanderbilt yet, but I have watched them on TV,” Saban said. “I think these guys are a really good football team. I think Clark Lee has done a fabulous job there. Obviously, Deigo (Pavia) is a really good quarterback. They’ve got a really good running back, but this is actually a little better team in my opinion just watching them I’m talking about all the way around, defensively and all that, than even what they had a year ago. So, the one thing I think, they’re a ball control team.”

Alabama football’s defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has described the Vanderbilt offense as challenging on Monday.

“They’ve got some dynamic threats that receivers are going up and making plays on the ball,” Wommack said. “Their tight end is very dynamic, Eli Stowers, who’s their leading receiver right now. And so just highly efficient on offense and the way they’re operating, they’ve got a ton of confidence and this will be a tremendous challenge for us defensively.

Alabama could have its hands full with Vanderbilt this weekend.