Vanderbilt will open the 2012 football season in front of a national audience.
The Commodores’ season opener against South Carolina on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Vanderbilt Stadium will kick off at 6 p.m. and be televised on ESPN, the network announced on Thursday.
It is Vanderbilt’s earliest start to a season since 2008 when the Commodores opened at Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 28. The last time they played a home game on Thursday was also in 2008, also against South Carolina. The Commodores won 24-17, their second of five straight victories to start the season.
Vanderbilt has not defeated South Carolina since and is 4-17 against the Gamecocks all-time.
The Commodores were 6-7 in 2011 and reached the Liberty Bowl. South Carolina finished 11-2 and defeated Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl.