Vanderbilt football secured its second consecutive SEC victory by defeating Kentucky, 20-13, at Kroger Field on Saturday night.
The Commodores improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the SEC, marking their second road win during Clark Lea’s tenure as head coach. Their previous road victory also came against Kentucky in 2022.
Quarterback Diego Pavia shone during the game, earning the Maxwell Award Player of the Week title. He passed for 143 yards, threw two touchdown passes, and rushed for 53 yards, despite suffering a knee injury late in the third quarter. Pavia returned to the game wearing a knee brace.
Kentucky, which entered the game after a bye week, previously defeated Ole Miss but has not exceeded 20 points in any of its SEC matchups this season.
In the fourth quarter, Kentucky’s Brock Vandagriff connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the score to 20-13. The Wildcats scored quickly but failed to capitalize on the extra point attempt due to a fumbled snap.
Earlier in the game, Vanderbilt extended their lead with a 50-yard field goal from Brock Taylor, marking his fourth of the season. They gained momentum in the third quarter after Kentucky’s field goal attempt was interrupted by a dropped snap that resulted in an interception.
In the second quarter, Pavia threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Richie Hoskins as the half was nearing its end. This followed Demie Sumo-Karngbaye’s one-yard touchdown run for Kentucky early in the quarter, which tied the game 7-7.
Vanderbilt initially got on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown catch by AJ Newberry, set up by an impressive 50-yard run effort from Pavia.
Vanderbilt’s upcoming matches include against Ball State, Texas, Auburn, South Carolina, LSU, and Tennessee throughout the remainder of the season. Kentucky will face Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, Murray State, Texas, and Louisville in their next games.
The game against Kentucky showcased Vanderbilt’s resilience and capability to perform under pressure, demonstrating their growth and potential for the remainder of the season.