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Alabama Football: Ten questions for the 2018 college football season

By Ronald Evans

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: The Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates beating the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime and winning the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama won 26-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: The Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates beating the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime and winning the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama won 26-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Derek Mason cheers with teammates and the crowd after a 14-7 Vanderbilt victory over Kansas State at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Can Derek Mason survive Vandy?

Whatever happens with Commodore football, Derek Mason will, of course, survive. He just may not do so in Nashville. Mason is a sharp defensive mind and he will never lack for employment in football.

Vanderbilt’s ten college football head coaches prior to Derek Mason had an average tenure of 4.1 seasons. 2018 will be Mason’s fifth season in Nashville. Those ten coaches averaged 3.7 wins per season. Derek Mason has averaged 4.5 wins at Vanderbilt. Measured against anyone other than James Franklin, Derek Mason is a Commodore success story.

Mason’s four Vandy teams have beaten Kansas State, Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Tennessee twice. Beating the Bulldogs, the Vols, Florida and South Carolina is going to get even harder.

Practically, the Dores have nine chances to reach six wins in 2018. They will not beat Notre Dame or win at Georgia. Beating South Carolina or Florida would be big upsets. Road wins at Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri will not be easy. MTSU and Nevada are must-wins early. Beating Tennessee State is a given but gaining three more victories will be a tough task.

The Commodores return an experienced quarterback in Kyle Shurmur. The entire offensive line also returns but they will need to improve in pass-blocking to give Shurmur adequate time. Mason’s defense will always play tough. Derek making it to year six in Nashville would be well received across college football.

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