Vanderbilt football, Diego Pavia stun Alabama for first win vs AP No. 1 team in program history (2024)

Vanderbilt football scored its first touchdown against Alabama since 2007 and in one half of football Saturday, exceeded its total points scored against the Crimson Tide in former coach Nick Saban's entire tenure.

The Commodores didn't stop there as they notched a massive, 40-35 upset win over the Crimson Tide, their first win over an AP No. 1 opponent in school history. Alabama is ranked No. 2 in the coaches poll.

Chants of "V-U" rang out through an Alabama-heavy home crowd at FirstBank Stadium as Vanderbilt kneeled out the game.

A pick-6 led to one of the Commodores' touchdowns and three Alabama penalties led to first downs on another drive. Vanderbilt led, 23-14, at halftime, and held the ball for 21½ minutes.

Brock Taylor also set a school record with his third field goal of 50+ yards in the same season.

The Crimson Tide (4-1, 1-1 SEC) were coming off an exhilarating win over Georgia and are facing a rested Vanderbilt team at FirstBank Stadium. The Commodores (3-2, 1-1) lost at Missouri two weeks ago but did not have a game last Saturday.

Watch Vanderbilt football vs Alabama live on Fubo (free trial)

Vanderbilt vs Alabama score updates

Fourth quarter

Vanderbilt 40, Alabama 35: Ryan Williams 2-yard rush

On a 4th-and-1 from the 2-yard line, Ryan Williams got the ball on a jet sweep and scored.

Vanderbilt 40, Alabama 28: Kamrean Johnson 6-yard touchdown catch

After Miles Capers and Yilanan Ouattara got a strip-sack of Jalen Milroe, Vanderbilt got favorable field position for its drive and went down the field for the score, capped off by Diego Pavia's touchdown pass to Johnson.

Vanderbilt 33, Alabama 28: Brock Taylor 33-yard field goal

After a hold called back what would've been a Cole Spence touchdown run, Vanderbilt settled for the 33-yard field goal from Brock Taylor.

Third quarter

Vanderbilt 30, Alabama 28: Ryan Williams 58-yard touchdown catch

Ryan Williams, Alabama's 17-year-old phenom, caught a deep ball from Jalen Milroe along the sideline and ran it into the end zone to bring the deficit back to two.

Vanderbilt 30, Alabama 21: Junior Sherrill 36-yard touchdown catch

On a 4th-and-1 from the Alabama 36, Vanderbilt passed up the long field goal and went for it. Pavia found Junior Sherrill deep for the touchdown.

Vanderbilt 23, Alabama 21: Jalen Milroe 14-yard touchdown run

Jalen Milroe had negative rushing yards at halftime, but he had his biggest run of the game during the third quarter when he ran for 14 yards and the score after starting with favorable field position due to a 46-yard kick return.

Second quarter

Vanderbilt 23, Alabama 14: Jamarion Wright 3-yard rush

With halftime approaching, Alabama got a quick touchdown drive. Vanderbilt spent a timeout after the Crimson Tide lined up to go for two, but they ultimately opted to kick instead.

Vanderbilt 23, Alabama 7: Brock Taylor 51-yard field goal

Vanderbilt forced a three-and-out and got the ball with favorable field position but the drive stalled after a false start penalty. Brock Taylor nailed a 51-yard field goal to put more points on the board.

Vanderbilt 20, Alabama 7: Sedrick Alexander 1-yard rush

Vanderbilt hit a fourth down near midfield and opted to punt, but a penalty extended the drive. Two more defensive penalties gave Vanderbilt free yardage before Alexander punched the ball in from the 1-yard line.

First quarter

Vanderbilt 13, Alabama 7: Jamarion Miller 8-yard touchdown run

Alabama had a 48-yard pass and a 17-yard pass on its touchdown drive, capped off with Miller's touchdown run.

Vanderbilt 13, Alabama 0: Randon Fontenette 24-yard interception return

On Alabama's first drive, De'Rickey Wright tipped a pass from Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe and Randon Fontenette returned it for a touchdown. Brock Taylor missed the extra point off the upright.

Vanderbilt 7, Alabama 0: Sedrick Alexander 7-yard run

Vanderbilt scored its first touchdown against Alabama since 2007 as Sedrick Alexander plowed into the end zone and took several defenders with him.

Vanderbilt vs Alabama time today

  • Date:Oct. 5
  • Time:3:15 p.m. CT
  • Location: FirstBank Stadium

What channel is Vanderbilt vs Alabama game on today?

  • Streaming: SEC Network (Stream on Fubo with a free trial)
  • Radio:102.5 The Game and the Vanderbilt Athletics app

Vanderbilt vs. Alabama will be broadcast on SEC Network. The broadcasters will be Tom Hart and Cole Cubelic.

Vanderbilt vs Alabama history

Vanderbilt is 19-62-4 against Alabama all time.

  • Last Vanderbilt win: 1993, via forfeit (originally 17-6 loss)
  • Last Alabama win: 2022, 55-3

Vanderbilt vs Alabama predictions

Alabama 48, Vanderbilt 14: There are a few games on Vanderbilt's schedule that are a big uphill battle, and this is one of them.

Vanderbilt vs Alabama betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGMas of Saturday:

  • Spread:Alabama -23.5
  • Over/under: 54.5
  • Moneyline:Vanderbilt +1100

Vanderbilt vs Alabama injury updates

Vanderbilt will be without CB Mark Davis (Achilles) and OT CJ Williams (ankle fracture), who are both out for the season. DE Zaylin Wood is also out after suffering an injury during the Georgia State game. WR Joseph McVay and EDGE Boubacar Diakite are questionable.

Vanderbilt vs Alabama weather update

Forecast high in Nashville for Saturday is 84 degrees with a 0% chance of precipitation.

Vanderbilt football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31:Virginia Tech, 34-27 win (OT)

Sept. 7:Alcorn State, 55-0 win

Sept. 14:at Georgia State, 36-32 loss

Sept. 21:at Missouri, 30-27 loss (2OT)

Sept. 28:Open

Oct. 5:Alabama

Oct. 12:at Kentucky

Oct. 19:Ball State

Oct. 26:Texas

Nov. 2:at Auburn

Nov. 9:South Carolina

Nov. 16:Open

Nov. 23:at LSU

Nov. 30: Tennessee

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Vanderbilt football news

  • Vanderbilt will wear all-black uniforms with gold numbers and new matte black helmets.

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Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her atagerson@gannett.comor on X, formerly Twitter,@aria_gerson.

Vanderbilt football, Diego Pavia stun Alabama for first win vs AP No. 1 team in program history (2024)
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