No. 20 Texas is hosting No. 9 Vanderbilt for the first time since 1903 on Saturday in a battle of top-20 SEC teams jockeying for positioning ahead of the first College Football Playoff rankings next week. The Commodores (7-1, 3-1 SEC) are in the midst of a historic season that includes consecutive victories over top-15 opponents.

A year ago, Vanderbilt—riding a three-game winning streak including their program-shifting win against Alabama—took Texas down to the wire, ultimately falling 27–24. That Longhorns team went on to the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Commodores would finish 7–6, marking significant progress for Clark Lea’s program.

No. 9 Vanderbilt continues its impressive football season, eyeing both the Southeastern Conference championship and a College Football Playoff berth.

Injured Texas football safety Michael Taaffe could return this week against Vanderbilt. Why that's especially important game-panning quarterback Diego Pavia.

Taaffe could play with a heavy cast on his surgically-repaired thumb when Vanderbilt visits Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Unable to play through any pain is Manning, who also practice on Wednesday but remains in concussion protocol — team doctors will make the decision about whether the Texas starter can play on Saturday or if redshirt senior backup Matthew Caldwell will make his first start for the Longhorns.

Vanderbilt and QB Diego Pavia are third in the nation in average rushing yards per carry, and Texas is third in the nation against the run.

NASHVILLE—-On the surface, it appeared to be a barometer of progress for this Vanderbilt program that had rarely competed with a team like Steve Sarkisian’s eve

For the first time in over a month, the No. 20 Texas Longhorns return to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium to face one of college football’s biggest surprises, the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores.