It's not easy to stand out in the Southeastern Conference's crowd of 10 AP Top 25 teams. Coach Clark Lea and Vanderbilt are pulling it off.

No. 17 Vanderbilt, which 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC, was voted the SEC's most surprising team at the midpoint of the season by Associated Press journalists who cover the conference. Lea was voted the top coach.

Top coach

Lea began his time at Vanderbilt in 2021 with three consecutive losing seasons before making dramatic changes. The Commodores shocked fans last season with a 40-35 win over then-No. 1 Alabama, giving Vanderbilt its first win over a top-ranked team. The 2024 team finished 7-6 and this year's version hopes to better that.

Top offensive player

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns in a win

See Full Page