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Vanderbilt's streak of Thursday night home openers will continue in 2016. This time, it will be against SEC East rival South Carolina.
The Commodores will meet the Gamecocks to kick off next season at Dudley Field. While the 'Dores haven't beaten USC since 2008, it was that Thursday night showdown that helped propel the team to a 5-0 record and a #13 ranking early in the season. The 'Cocks will kick off an SEC home schedule that will also feature Florida, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Nonconference visits from Middle Tennessee State and regular Tennessee State will round out Vandy's six-game slate at Dudley Field.
Here's how that home schedule shakes out:
| Home | Date | Historical Record |
| South Carolina | 9/1/2016 | 4-21 |
| Middle Tennessee | 9/10/2016 | 13-3 |
| Florida | 10/1/2016 | 10-36-2 |
| Tennessee St. | 10/22/2016 | 1-0 |
| Ole Miss | 11/19/2016 | 38-50-2 |
| Tennessee | 11/26/2016 | 30-74-5 |
Vanderbilt's road schedule:
| Away | Date | Historical Record |
| Georgia Tech | 9/17/2016 | 15-19-3 |
| Western Kentucky | 9/24/2016 | 3-1 |
| Kentucky | 10/8/2016 | 41-42-4 |
| Georgia | 10/15/2016 | 19-55-2 |
| Auburn | 11/5/2016 | 21-20-1 |
| Missouri | 11/12/2016 | 3-4-1 |
As usual, it's a tough schedule for the Commodores. Western Kentucky and Georgia Tech will likely be facing below average seasons, but they're both tough outs for a Vanderbilt team that gets no respite in conference play. Fortunately for Derek Mason, the team's toughest SEC games - against Florida, Ole Miss, and, (sure, why not) Tennessee will come at Dudley Field.