Ultimately, 13 SEC teams ended up being bowl-eligible. There are nine SEC bowl tie-ins. That means that if four SEC teams make the College Football Playoff, all SEC teams will end up in an SEC bowl. That became more likely after Miami's loss to Syracuse.

The Vols’ defense, which held Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia to 104 passing yards, contributed to the scoring with a third-quarter safety that made the score 33-17. Tennessee’s run of 29 straight points culminated with a Max Gilbert’s 22-yard field goal that gave the Vols a 36-17 lead with 8:24 left in the contest.

The 2024 season won't end that way, even as the Commodores once again got boatraced by their rival yet again. There was hope that Vanderbilt could pull off another stunner as late as the first quarter, when Junior Sherrill took the opening kickoff for a touchdown and then the Commodores forced a fumble.

Here's what Clark Lea and Vanderbilt football need to do to turn their attention to the transfer portal and bowl prep after losing to Tennessee.