KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 12 Vanderbilt delivered one of the most significant wins in program history on Saturday, overpowering No. 18 Tennessee 45–24 behind a dominating performance from quarterback Diego Pavia at Neyland Stadium.
Pavia produced a career-defining outing, throwing for 268 yards and a touchdown while adding 165 rushing yards and another score. His dual-threat brilliance fueled a Vanderbilt offense that piled up 582 total yards — and secured the Commodores’ first 10-win season and their highest scoring output against Tennessee since 1923.
“This one is for the record books,” head coach Clark Lea said. “The first 10-win team in program history — that means everything to these guys.”
Sedrick Alexander powered the ground game with 115 rushing yards and three touchdowns as Vanderbilt (10–2, 6–2 SEC, No. 14 CFP) strengthened its argument for a College Football Playoff spot.
“It’s a great story in college football,” Lea added. “To deny these players a chance to compete for everything would be an injustice to the work they’ve put in.”
Pavia, who entered the game confident despite Vanderbilt being an underdog, said he never doubted his team.
“People thought I was crazy for believing,” Pavia said. “All it takes is faith. God gave me a platform and a vision — and it felt good to walk in here and prove it.”
Tennessee Fades After Halftime
Tennessee (8–4, 4–4 SEC, No. 19 CFP) matched Vanderbilt early, entering halftime tied 21–21 thanks to 299 passing yards from Joey Aguilar and two rushing scores from DeSean Bishop.
But the second half was all Vanderbilt.
The Commodores opened the third quarter with a clock-draining, 6:35 drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run from Alexander. After the defense forced a quick three-and-out, Pavia delivered a knockout blow — a 24-yard touchdown scurry that stretched the lead to two scores.
“An extremely disappointing second half led to an extremely disappointing result,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Our defensive performance was nowhere near the standard for Tennessee football.”
Aguilar echoed the disappointment.
“We came out flat,” he said. “You don’t get many chances in a game like this. You’ve got to capitalize.”
Takeaways
Vanderbilt:
With 10 wins and a road victory over a ranked rival, Vanderbilt’s résumé becomes difficult for the CFP committee to ignore. A superstar in Pavia, an elite season from Alexander, and a compelling storyline all strengthen their push for a playoff berth.
Tennessee:
Losing to Vanderbilt — at home and with a 10-win season within reach — casts a shadow over the Volunteers’ finish. The defeat also ends any hope of matching last year’s double-digit win total and sends the Vols into bowl season with frustration and unfinished business.
Notes
Vanderbilt announced a six-year contract extension for Clark Lea earlier this week after reports surfaced of Florida’s interest in the Commodores’ head coach.
Aguilar surpassed 200 passing yards for the 12th straight game and moved past Peyton Manning for fourth on Tennessee’s all-time single-season passing list with over 3,300 yards.
Up Next:
Both teams now await their postseason destinations, which will be announced next week.
