Predators' Andrew Brunette thinks Vanderbilt football deserves CFP spot

As Vanderbilt football awaits their fate in the college football playoff, Clark Lea and the Commodores have a close ally in Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette.

In fact, if Brunette were on the selection committee, they'd have at least one vote.

"I think they should be in for sure," Brunette told reporters after Predators practice at Bridgestone Arena on Dec. 1. "Seems like they should make it with the SEC so strong."

Vanderbilt (10-2, 6-2 SEC) beat Tennessee 45-24 on Nov. 29 to finish with 10 wins for the first time in school history. The Commodores are ranked No. 12 in the US LBM poll and have an outside shot to make the college football playoff, which includes 12 teams vying for the national title.

Brunette, an avid sports fan who was on Broadway when Vanderbilt's field goal posts were dumped in the Cumberland River following the Commodores' 2024 win over then No. 1 Alabama, thinks the Commodores have the resume to make the playoff.

"I know they lost in Texas, probably didn't start on time, a bit like our problem right now," Brunette said, referring the Predators' (8-13-4, 20 points) recent tendency to allow goals in the first minute of play. "But they dominated the rest of that game. They lost to Alabama, which is a tough place to play, but they should be in for sure."

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One reason Brunette thinks Vanderbilt should make it? Quarterback Diego Pavia.

"That would be a great selling point. Who wouldn't want to watch him play again? Big game for sure," Brunette said.

Pavia accounted for 268 passing yards, 165 rush yards, and two touchdowns in the win over Tennessee. This season, he's responsible for 36 total touchdowns and could be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Brunette is also a fan of Lea, who has stayed close to the Predators organization since arriving at Vanderbilt in 2021. In 2023, Lea helped connect longtime Predators' locker room attendant Craig Baugh with a medical team at Vanderbilt when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Baugh is now in recovery and still in his position with the Predators.

That kind of personal connection with the Predators has not gone unnoticed by Brunette.

"He does an unbelievable job. A really quality person, quality leader. I watched a little bit of (Netflix's "SEC Football: Any Given Saturday") and just seeing how he built the organization up, it's a cool story," Brunette said.

On Nov. 28, Vanderbilt announced a six-year extension for Lea, which includes facility upgrades for the football team.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football deserves CFP spot per Predators' Andrew Brunette