Vanderbilt football suffered its second consecutive loss on Saturday night, falling to LSU by a score of 24-17 at Tiger Stadium. The Commodores, now holding a record of 6-5 and 3-4 in the SEC, managed to score a touchdown on their opening drive but struggled to find the end zone for the remainder of the game, securing only one more touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Despite narrowing the deficit to a single score, Vanderbilt was unable to regain possession as LSU maintained control of the ball, driving down close enough to run out the clock.
LSU improved its record to 7-4, 4-3 in the conference, and extended its winning streak against Vanderbilt, having not lost to them since 1990. The Commodores have not surpassed 24 points in a game since their surprising win over Alabama in early October.
Diego Pavia started at quarterback for Vanderbilt despite not being fully healthy due to previous injuries. He completed 13 of 24 passes for 186 yards and rushed six times for 43 yards. Vanderbilt’s upcoming matchup against Tennessee will be pivotal, as they have a chance to thwart the Volunteers’ aspirations of making the College Football Playoff.
In the game’s fourth quarter, the scoring sequence saw Pavia rush for a 1-yard touchdown after a successful fake punt. Earlier in the quarter, LSU had scored a 28-yard field goal. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kyren Lacy in the third quarter, while Josh Williams contributed two rushing touchdowns for LSU.
Vanderbilt faces a tough road ahead in their next game against Tennessee, which presents a chance not only for redemption but also an opportunity to spoil the Vols’ playoff ambitions.
Looking towards the future, there’s reason for hope as Vanderbilt seeks to close out the season strong and build on its foundation for next year. With a young team and upcoming talent, the Commodores can regroup and aim for improvement in the coming games.
In summary, while the loss to LSU was disappointing, Vanderbilt has the potential to turn things around with their upcoming game against Tennessee, making it an exciting finish to the regular season.