Down to its third-string quarterback after the first drive of the game, Vanderbilt’s offense turned in a dreadful performance in a 24-7 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday night.
It would have been hard to script a better start to the game for the Commodores. After forcing a quick punt by South Carolina, Riley Neal — starting at quarterback in place of Mo Hasan, who was still in the concussion protocol — led Vanderbilt on an 11-play, 77-yard drive that took 6:06 off the clock and concluded with Neal finding Cam Johnson on a 27-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.