In a moment that fans of the Vanderbilt Commodores will never forget, the crowd erupted into a frenzy after their team’s monumental win. The victory wasn’t just any win; it was a triumph over No. 1 Alabama, a team that has dominated the field for years. Excited fans stormed the field, dancing and shouting in celebration. The climax of this victory party? They tore down the goalpost, marched it a couple of miles, and tossed it straight into the Cumberland River. If ever there was a celebration that matched the magnitude of the win, this was it!
This historic victory came on a Saturday where Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1) shocked everyone by defeating Alabama 40-35. For context, the Commodores had a 0-60 record against AP top-five teams before this matchup, the longest such streak since the poll era began in 1936. Not only had they not beaten a top-five team, but they hadn’t beaten Alabama on the field in 40 years. Yes, four decades. But all of that changed as the Commodores pulled off big play after big play, finally snapping a 23-game losing streak to Alabama. Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, himself a former player for the Commodores, couldn’t have been prouder. He called it the biggest win ever for his alma mater.
“This is the dream right here,” said Lea, visibly emotional. “For the next 12 hours, I’m going to enjoy the dream. We’ve got more ahead of us, but this is what Vanderbilt football needs to be about: big wins on big stages. We’re going to go get some more.”
The Commodores didn’t just scrape by with this win; they outplayed Alabama in a game filled with unforgettable moments. Sedrick Alexander was a force to be reckoned with, running for two touchdowns. Randon Fontenette’s pick-six added to the excitement, and Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt’s quarterback, held his own against Alabama’s star quarterback Jalen Milroe, a Heisman Trophy contender. Pavia didn’t just hold his own—he outplayed Milroe, adding a 6-yard touchdown pass to Alabama native Kamrean Johnson late in the game, which helped seal the deal for Vanderbilt.
Alabama, fresh off an emotional win over Georgia, was heavily favored in this matchup. In fact, at ESPN BET, the Tide were 22.5-point favorites—a massive margin. It was the first time since 2008 that a No. 1 team lost as at least a three-touchdown favorite. Back in 2008, USC fell to Oregon State under similar circumstances, but few thought that lightning would strike again, especially against Alabama.
For first-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, this game was a test of his team’s resilience. “We’re going to find out really how much we care about each other and what it looks like moving forward,” DeBoer said. “We’ve been tested in different ways really in a lot of the games here this season, and this is a different type of test now in our response.”
Alexander set the tone early in the game, capping off the opening drive with a 7-yard touchdown that put Vanderbilt ahead for good. It was the first time since 2007 that the Commodores had opened a game against Alabama with a touchdown. For context, 2007 was Nick Saban’s second year as head coach for the Tide. It was clear from the outset that this wasn’t going to be a typical Alabama-Vanderbilt game.
The game wasn’t just about offense, though. Alabama, typically so disciplined, made too many mistakes that helped Vanderbilt pad its lead. Sloppy play and penalties plagued the Tide throughout the game. Milroe’s 58-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Williams brought Alabama within striking distance at 30-28, but Vanderbilt was quick to respond. The Commodores put up 10 more points, capitalizing on two key turnovers from Milroe. One of these was a strip sack by Vanderbilt’s Miles Capers, which Yilanan Ouattara recovered at midfield. Pavia’s touchdown pass to Johnson, with just over five minutes left in the game, gave Vanderbilt a 40-28 lead.
Milroe and the Tide weren’t done fighting, though. Williams scored again on a 2-yard end around with 2:46 left on the clock, cutting Vanderbilt’s lead to just five points. But by that point, the Commodores had already drained much of the clock, holding the ball for over 42 minutes of game time. The Tide simply ran out of time. When Pavia knelt down to run out the clock, Vanderbilt’s fans and players knew it was over—they had just pulled off the upset of the year.
Pavia, whose performance will surely be remembered as one of the key factors in the win, summed it up perfectly. “Games like this change your life,” he said, undoubtedly reflecting on the magnitude of the moment.
One of the most exciting plays of the game came early in the first quarter. Milroe’s second pass of the game was tipped into the air by De’Rickey Wright, a player who initially committed to Alabama before winding up at Vanderbilt. Fontenette grabbed the tipped ball and ran it 24 yards into the end zone, putting Vanderbilt up 13-0 just eight minutes into the game. It was one of those moments where you could feel the tide (pun intended) shifting in Vanderbilt’s favor.
Despite Alabama’s 312-252 advantage in total yardage, the Commodores played a smart, calculated game. They converted 12 of their 18 third downs, wearing down the Tide defense and controlling the pace of the game. Alabama, on the other hand, just couldn’t seem to get out of its own way. As coach DeBoer mentioned after the game, “Guys certainly are frustrated about that.” And frustrated they should be. Alabama’s self-inflicted wounds played a major role in Vanderbilt’s success.
This game will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest upsets in college football history. Vanderbilt fans will tell the story of how they marched a goalpost to the Cumberland River for years to come. It was a celebration fitting for a victory of this scale—a victory that changes the trajectory of Vanderbilt football. The Commodores made a statement: they’re ready to compete with the best, and they’re here to stay.
In the grand scheme of things, this game was more than just a win for Vanderbilt. It was a defining moment, one that could shift the balance of power in the SEC for years to come. And for the fans who danced on the field and carried that goalpost through the streets of Nashville, it was the sweetest victory of all.
Login