Vanderbilt is 0-60 overall against the top five teams. The Vanderbilt Commodores haven’t beaten the Alabama Crimson Tide since 1984.
That’s no longer the case. Vanderbilt defeated Alabama 40-35 on Saturday night.
Alabama scored with just under three minutes left in the game. They fought back, but Vanderbilt stood firm and preserved the victory.
Throughout the game, Alabama was unable to keep Vanderbilt off the field. Quarterback Diego Pavia went 16-for-20 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. With less than two minutes left, Pavia got the first down, putting Vanderbilt in the driver’s seat and wrapping up the win. The move to New Mexico State breathed life into Vanderbilt football when it needed it most.
Vanderbilt has a belief in football. They defeated Virginia Tech earlier this season and now pulled off a huge upset against the No. 1 team in college football. Just last week, they took No. 9 ranked Missouri State to overtime. The Commodores demand respect, especially against ranked opponents.
New head coach Clark Lee is turning the program around right before our eyes just five weeks into the season.
The Commodores were 0-8 in SEC play last year. They just proved this year that there is no such thing as slouching in the SEC, and it’s understandable to be upset if you find yourself falling asleep at the wheel.
“I think especially being able to get back to my passion for teaching and coaching. I’m a teacher first and a competitor second,” Lee said before the season. “So I feel like I have direct responsibility for their play and performance on the field, and I build a relationship of trust by coaching my players and helping them play at a higher level. Everything is energizing for me.”
With this win, the Crimson Tide will undoubtedly be dethroned as the No. 1 team in college football. At 4-1, Alabama still has a good chance of making the College Football Playoff despite the embarrassing loss. For Vanderbilt, it’s not quite the same. They have already suffered two losses in their young season and will need to be in perfect condition to be named to the top 12 teams in the nation by the end of the season. Lear even admitted after the thrilling win against Alabama that while this wasn’t the end goal, it was certainly a turning point.
But honestly? The playoffs are right around the corner at this point. Any way you look at it, this is a big win for Vanderbilt’s growing program. Beating Alabama was never easy, but the retooled Commodores accomplished the unthinkable against the No. 1 team in the nation.
Let’s pay a little tribute to the Vanderbilt Commodores. They just had the biggest win in the history of the football program.
