NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt Commodores fans celebrated in style after their historic upset over No. 1 Alabama, taking to the field to dance, tear down a goal post, and carry it away, eventually tossing it into the Cumberland River.
In a stunning 40-35 victory, Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) secured its first-ever win against the nation’s top-ranked team, ending a 60-game losing streak against AP top-five teams. Sedrick Alexander rushed for two touchdowns and Randon Fontenette scored on a pick-six, leading to a standout performance by Diego Pavia, who outplayed Heisman Trophy hopeful Jalen Milroe.
“This is the dream, right here,” said Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea. “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.”
Vanderbilt jumped ahead early with the first 13 points and established a 16-point lead, their largest ever against the top-ranked team. Alabama managed to close the gap to 23-14 before halftime with a touchdown by Jam Miller.
The Crimson Tide (4-1, 1-1), having recently claimed the top spot in the AP Top 25 after beating then-No. 2 Georgia, now faces the challenge of regrouping. First-year coach Kalen DeBoer acknowledged the need to refocus. “We’re going to find out really how much we care about each other and what it looks like moving forward,” he said.
Vanderbilt maintained their lead throughout the game, scoring 13 points off Milroe’s turnovers and converting 12 of 18 third downs, which kept Alabama’s defense on the field for over 42 minutes. Pavia capped a drive with a 6-yard TD pass to Kamrean Johnson, extending their lead to 40-28. Alabama attempted to rally but ultimately fell short as Vanderbilt ran out the clock.
Milroe struggled, throwing a tipped pass that led to Fontenette’s pick-six, contributing to a commanding 23-7 lead for the Commodores. Alabama’s performance was marred by sloppy play, including six penalties.
Following this loss, Alabama is expected to drop from the top position in the polls. They aim to bounce back as they return home to host South Carolina, while Vanderbilt will travel to Kentucky for their next matchup.