After the convincing 30-7 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday, coach James Franklin’s Vanderbilt Commodores have turned the heads of voters in the Top 25 polls, picking up 11 votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll and eight votes in the Associated Press ballot. The Commodores have not been ranked since 2008.
 

The media attention comes as a result of the most persuasive victory over an SEC opponent in recent memory. After the game, an emotional James Franklin tried to describe his feelings and explain the team’s development so far this season.
 

“The feelings (I'm having) aren't because this is an SEC game. The feelings are because we've gotten better,” Franklin said. “It makes me feel so good to know how hard (our team) worked for the last nine months to have them have some success.”
 

He continued, "It's a tremendous sense of pride. I know how hard they've worked ...  It means a lot to me."
 

Coach Franklin and the Commodores carry their newly found success and pride to Columbia to take on the No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks next weekend, the most challenging matchup of the young season. Vanderbilt’s performance against South Carolina will determine whether or not the Commodores deserve a national ranking and have a legitimate shot to challenge the traditional powers of the SEC this season.