The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off their biggest win of the 2026 college football season. Kalen DeBoer's team looks to keep rolling when it visits the Vanderbilt Commodores in Week 11.
Alabama (7-2, 5-2 SEC) is No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Polland the AP Top 25. The Crimson Tide are No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-5) is unranked.
Keelon Russell threw three touchdown passes in the second half of the Tide's massive 31-13 victory over LSU at Tiger Stadium in Week 10. Russell was 17 of 24 for 206 yards. Alabama's defense delivered, as well. LSU's final four drives resulted in a turnover on downs, a punt, a turnover on downs and a turnover on downs.
Russell dealt with an ankle injury during the win over LSU but
was listed as "probable" on the initial SEC availability report for Saturday's game in Nashville.
Vanderbilt picked up its first win in conference play with a 25-23 victory at free-falling Mississippi State in Week 10. Five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis was 17 of 27 for 168 yards.
With Makhilyn Young and Sedrick Alexander leading the way, the Commodores rushed for 160 yards against the Bulldogs. Brock Taylor made six field goals as Clark Lea's team ended a five-game losing streak.
Will Alabama football avoid scare at Vanderbilt? ESPN's final score prediction
Ahead of Alabama-Vanderbilt, ESPN's Bill Connelly predicted the final score using his popular SP+ metrics. Connelly has the Crimson Tide winning handily and exceeding the oddsmakers' 16.5-point spread favoring Alabama.
His final score prediction: Alabama 38, Vanderbilt 16.
Connelly gives the Crimson Tide a win probability of 91%.
Where Alabama football sits in ESPN SP+ rankings after statement win at LSU
Alabama is No. 8 in ESPN's SP+ team rankings, the same spot as last week.
The Crimson Tide have an overall rating of 22.7 (up from 20.6 before the win over LSU). Alabama is one spot below LSU (22.9) and one spot ahead of the Utah Utes (21.5) in ESPN's team rankings.
To break down Alabama's rating by units, SP+ gives the Crimson Tide a 37.9 rating on offense (No. 10 nationally, up one spot) and a 15.7 rating on defense, which is No. 16 nationally. In special teams, Alabama is given a 0.4 rating, which ranks 25th nationally.
Vanderbilt is No. 78 in the SP+ team rankings with an overall rating of minus-1.5, one spot Florida Atlantic and one spot ahead of Army. The metrics give the Commodores a 25.5 rating on offense that's No. 78 nationally, a 27.7 rating on defense that's No. 81 nationally, and a 0.7 rating in special teams (No. 4 nationally).
What are ESPN SP+ rankings?
According to Connelly, SP+ is "simply a measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football. If you're lucky or unimpressive in a win, your rating will probably fall. If you're strong and unlucky in a loss, it will probably rise."
"SP+ is not a résumé ranking, so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling -- no good predictive system does," he adds.
'College GameDay' announces Week 11 location, choosing unusual setting
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) November 11, 2026
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Alabama football vs. Vanderbilt: start time, channel for Week 11
Kickoff for Alabama-Vanderbilt in Week 11 of the 2026 college football season is 11:45 a.m. CT Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. The game can be seen on SEC Network. Matt Schumacker and Aaron Murray will have the call of the game. Taylor Davis will report from the sidelines.
The Crimson Tide Sports Network radio feed of the game featuring Chris Stewart and Tyler Watts can be heard on SiriusXM Channel 81 and The Varsity App.
Alabama football schedule 2026
All times Central.
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina Pirates (W, 48-10)
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky Wildcats (W, 45-17)
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State Seminoles (W, 50-36)
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (W, 49-18)
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State Bulldogs (W, 56-23)
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia Bulldogs (L, 20-17)
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee Volunteers (L, 26-10)
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M Aggies (W, 31-20)
- Nov. 7: at LSU Tigers (W, 31-13)
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt Commodores, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga Mocs, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn Tigers, TBA
Record: 7-2, 5-2 SEC.
CBS Sports predicts Alabama football's remaining schedule and record
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) November 11, 2026
📸 Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/2gWEYWBpPV pic.twitter.com/32CUmjcKLH
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: ESPN predicts the final score of Alabama football at Vanderbilt
