Getty The Vanderbilt Commodores will play their annual spring game on April 8.
The Vanderbilt Commodores will hold their annual Black and Gold spring game at the Vanderbilt Soccer and Lacrosse Complex on Saturday, April 8.
The game (6 p.m. ET start time) isn’t on regular TV, but it will stream live on both SEC Network+ (this can be watched on the ESPN app or website if you have a cable package or streaming service that includes SEC Network) and ESPN+.
Here’s a full guide on how to watch the 2023 Vanderbilt Spring Game:
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ESPN+
Every game that is on SEC Network+ (which is different from the regular SEC Network TV channel) is also available live on ESPN+:
ESPN+ includes dozens of other live sports, every 30-for-30 documentary and additional original content (both video and written) for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (or $13.99 per month for a bundle of all three of ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu).
Once signed up for ESPN+, you can watch the 2023 Vanderbilt Spring Game live on the ESPN app or ESPN.com.
Compatible devices for the ESPN app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One or Series X/S, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Samsung Smart TV, Oculus Go, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
FuboTV
You can watch SEC Network+ with a subscription to FuboTV. You’ll need both the main channel package and the “Sports Plus” add-on, but both can be included with your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the 2023 Vanderbilt Spring Game live on the ESPN app (not the FuboTV app) or ESPN.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Fubo credentials to do that.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” You ‘ll need “Choice” or above to watch SEC Network+, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the 2023 Vanderbilt Spring Game live on the ESPN app (not the DirecTV Stream app) or ESPN.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials to do that.
Sling TV
You can watch SEC Network+ with a subscription to Sling TV. You’ll need the “Sling Orange + Sports Extra” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with SEC Network and SEC Network+, and you can get your first month half off:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the 2023 Vanderbilt Spring Game live on the ESPN app (not the Sling app) or ESPN.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Sling credentials to do that.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of SEC Network+ with a subscription to Hulu With Live TV, which also includes access to both ESPN+ and Disney+ at no added cost:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the 2023 Vanderbilt Spring Game live on the Hulu app (because Hulu includes ESPN+) or Hulu website.
Compatible devices for the Hulu app include Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch the game live on the ESPN app or ESPN.com. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Hulu credentials to do that.
Vanderbilt Spring Game 2023 Preview
The Black and Gold finished with a 5-7 overall record in 2022, going 2-6 in the SEC. Vandy averaged 24.6 points a game on offense while allowing 36.0 points a game on defense. Sophomore AJ Swann is slated to be the starting quarterback for the Commodores, and he should be fully healthy after dealing with injury issues last season. The young QB’s development and conditioning will be something to watch in the spring game.
“I want to see two sides that are playing in structure, playing together and putting pressure on each other,” Vandy head coach Clark Lea said about what he’d like to see from his team during spring scrimmages. “I want to see the moments where we have explosive plays, I want it to be about high-level execution and winning one-on-one matchups. I don’t want it to be about a breakdown in coverage or breakdown in block scheme, I want it to be about a player that is rising up.”
One position yet to be settled for the Commodores is starting tight end, so that’ll be a position up for grabs. If redshirt freshman Cole Spence, senior Justin Ball or senior Logan Kyle can make some plays in the scrimmage, the job could be theirs for the taking.
“We’re finding out about the people we have, not just the plays we run,” Lea added. “I’ve seen that at times to this point. In fact I’ve seen that more this camp than any other since I’ve been here, spring and fall included. But hopefully we see a lot of high-structured plays, a lot of effort, physical and the explosives come because guys are risking up and making a play, winning a one-on-one and creating some excitement around what we’re doing.”
The spring scrimmage is expected to last approximately two hours and will feature Vanderbilt’s offense clad in white jerseys and its defense in black. Last year’s scrimmage ended in a 32-32 tie.
Here’s a look at Vanderbilt’s upcoming schedule for the 2023 season:
August. 26 vs. Hawaii
Sept. 2 – vs. Alabama A&M
Sept. 9 – at Wake Forest
Sept. 16 – at UNLV
Sept. 23 – vs. Kentucky
Sept. 30 – vs. Missouri
Oct. 7 – at Florida
Oct. 14– vs. Georgia
Oct 28. – at Ole Miss
Nov. 4 – vs. Auburn
Nov. 11 – at South Carolina
Nov. 25 – at Tennessee