Alabama now envisions itself following its big win over Georgia.
The No. 1 Crimson Tide were shocked by Vanderbilt 40-35 in Nashville on Saturday afternoon.
Diego Pavia threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while the Commodores’ Randon Fontenet had a pick-six on Jalen Milrow as Vanderbilt jumped out to a 23-7 lead and then grabbed the SEC upset.
“Vanderbilt f—king turned,” an excited Pavia said after the game on the ESPN broadcast.
According to SportsRadar, Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) has lost all 60 games against AP top-five teams in program history.
The Commodores hadn’t beaten Alabama on the field in 40 years, but they snapped a 23-game skid with big game after big game, giving coach Clark Lea his alma mater’s biggest win yet.
Warning: graphic language
Alabama moved into the top spot in the AP Top 25 after an emotional 41-34 win over Georgia.
Alexander capped the game’s opening drive with a seven-yard TD to put the car ahead.
Vandy started a game against Alabama with a TD for the first time since 2007 — Nick Saban’s second as coach.
The Tide (4-1, 1-1) was led by Vanderbilt’s bat with several mistakes, sloppy play and penalties.
Alabama got within 30-28 on Milrow’s 58-yard TD pass to Ryan Williams.
Vanderbilt responded with 10 points.
Of their total, 13 came from Milrow’s two turnovers, the second of which was a strip sack by Miles Capers that was recovered for Vanderbilt at midfield by Yalan Ouattara.
Pavia took a 40-28 lead with 5:07 left on a six-yard TD pass to Alabama’s Kamrion Johnson.
Milrow tried to rally Alabama when Williams scored from 2 yards out on fourth-and-1 with 2:46 left.
Vanderbilt fans and players began celebrating as Pavia knelt to run out the clock.
Milrow had his second pass caught in the air by Tricky Wright, who committed to Alabama and left at Vanderbilt.
Fontenet caught the ball and raced 24 yards to the end zone for a pick-six and a 13-0 lead at 8:03 of the first quarter.
Vanderbilt improved to 23-7, the second time in the last 10 seasons that a No. 1 team trailed an unranked opponent by 16 or more points.
Clemson trailed Boston College by 18 in 2020 and won 30-28.
Alabama never came back in this game.
Vanderbilt never trailed as the Commodores played keep-away, holding the ball for over 42 minutes. Alabama had a 312-252 yard advantage.
It didn’t matter.
The Commodores got help from Alabama to hold off a 17-play drive that used up 9:50 of the clock with a pair of penalties. The Tide dropped another player to Vandy first with the same No. 2 to take the field again with 17-year-old phenom Williams.
On third down, Alabama linebacker Q. Robinson hit Pavia, drawing a flag for roughing that Tide fans hated. Five plays later, Alexander scored from a yard out to put Vandy up 20-7.
Brock Taylor put Vandy up 23-7 with a 51-yard field goal with 4:10 left in the first half.
– with AP
