The Commodore football team takes the field before Vanderbilt defeated the MTSU Blue Raiders 47-24 at Vanderbilt Stadium September 10, 2016.
Vanderbilt returns to a seven-five home-road game split in 2017 after two straight seasons with six home and six road games. Head coach Derek Mason has three home non-conference games lined up, against Alabama A&M, Kansas State and Western Kentucky.
In a departure from previous seasons, VU starts its campaign with a trip to Murfreesboro to face Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 2. The Saturday opener marks the first non-Thursday season debut for Vanderbilt since 2011 and the first time starting on the road since 2008.