The odds that ESPN’s College Gameday devotes airtime Auburn – Vanderbilt game where the Commodores are 12.5-point home underdogs just went up. Recent Saturday Night Live host Nate Bargatze, arguably the most famous Commodore fan out there (who didn’t actually attend the prestigious Nashville school, but whatever, he isn’t Skip Bayless so it’s a win), will be the esteemed pregame show’s celebrity guest picker for Week 10.
The longtime standup has never been hotter, parlaying the success of his Netflix specials into a well-received SNL gig last week. Now he’ll be back on the clock this weekend, sharing a panel with Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and what’s sure to be a shirt-less Pat McAfee at some point in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Having Bargatze front and center will shine more light on Vanderbilt’s 2023 season which, oh no. Oh, no no no no no.
After a solid 5-7 campaign in 2022, head coach Clark Lea has taken a step backward in the midst of a 2-7 season that’s seen seven straight losses, all but one of which have come by at least 16 points. Even worse: the Commodores have done so while looking like absolute doofuses after exchanging their iconic Star V for a generic, failed crypto firm logo no one actually likes.
Fortunately, Bargatze has a built-in out when confronted with tough questions like “why does Lea appear to be running quarterback AJ Swann out of the program” and “wasn’t Lea supposed to be a defensive expert, what the hell happened?” It’s nearly winter, which means its time for Vanderbilt’s true powerhouse program to shine.
Vanderbilt won 13 games this weekend to claim its 50th tournament championship in program history. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/VSMBgNXso9
— Vanderbilt Bowling (@VandyBowling) October 22, 2023
Ah yeah, that’s the stuff.
Anyway, Nate Bargatze, from Saturday Night Live to talking women’s bowling on College Gameday. Truly, living the dream.
