1898 Vanderbilt Commodores football team was in its ninth season of playing football, Vanderbilt was coached by R. G. Acton in his third and last year at Vanderbilt. His 1897 squad was 6-0-1 and was not scored on. Vanderbilt’s 1898 record was 1-5. Its lone win came over the University of Nashville (Peabody), 5-0. Losses were to Cincinnati (0-10), Georgia (0-4), Virginia (0-15), Central University of Kentucky (0-10) and Sewanee (0-19) this was Vanderbilts first losing season.