Alabama carries 2024 Vanderbilt lesson back to Nashville

Alabama returns to Nashville on Saturday with coach Kalen DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack still drawing lessons from the Crimson Tide’s 40-35 loss at Vanderbilt in 2024.

Alabama entered that game ranked No. 1 after a dramatic victory over Georgia, then suffered its first loss to Vanderbilt since 1984. The defeat contributed heavily to the Crimson Tide missing the College Football Playoff.

DeBoer raised that history in the locker room after Alabama beat LSU on Saturday. He said Monday that some current coaches and players experienced the Vanderbilt loss while others did not, leaving each person with a different view of the matchup.

His approach is to apply previous experiences, whether positive or negative, to the current team’s preparation. That includes studying how Vanderbilt’s style matched up with Alabama in 2024 rather than treating the return trip strictly as a revenge game.

The players who spoke ahead of the game indicated the upset has not dominated the week. Linebacker Caleb Woodson, who was at Virginia Tech when Vanderbilt beat the Hokies last season, said Alabama’s attention is on controlling its next game rather than revisiting the past.

Wommack has kept a memento from the 2024 loss in his office. He said the experience reinforced the need for the same urgency in every SEC game, particularly after a major victory. Alabama has repeatedly used that experience to sharpen its daily preparation.

For Wommack, the lesson centers on staying relentless in preparation. Alabama gets another chance to apply it when the Crimson Tide and Commodores kick off at 11:45 a.m. CT Saturday on SEC Network.

Why it matters

The 2024 defeat contributed heavily to Alabama missing the College Football Playoff. DeBoer and Wommack are using that experience to reinforce consistent preparation after another win over LSU.

What to watch next

Alabama and Vanderbilt are scheduled to kick off at 11:45 a.m. CT Saturday on SEC Network.