NFL
When was the last time Vanderbilt beat Alabama in college football?
The Commodores finally crack the gruesome 23-game losing streak against the Crimson Tide in NCAA Football, in their first-ever win against a country’s No.1.
On October 6, 2024, Vanderbilt University’s varsity football team achieved a historic win against their long-standing rivals, the Alabama Crimson Tide. This remarkable victory, with a score of 40-35 in favor of Vanderbilt, is considered one of the biggest upsets in college football this season, maybe even this decade.
Despite being the underdog by 22.5 points and having a previous record of 0-60 against AP Top 5 teams, Vanderbilt shocked the nation with this triumph. The last time Vanderbilt won against Alabama was on September 29, 1984, with a score of 30-21 in Tuscaloosa. Before that, Vanderbilt hadn’t defeated the Tide since 1969. The Commodores entered Saturday’s contest 0-10 against the No. 1 ranked team in the country, per the SEC Network broadcast.
Quarterback Diego Pavia, had an outstanding performance, accumulating over 300 yards and contributing two touchdowns to the win. He sealed the win with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kamrean Johnson at the 5:07 mark of the fourth quarter. His leadership skills and phenomenal play were instrumental in Vanderbilt’s stunning triumph.
Vanderbilt made many investments before this season, and those investments finally started to pay off. In this monumental win for the Vanderbilt Commodores, the New Mexico transfer quarterback Diego Pavia led his team to an unforgettable victory, taking down the nation’s top-ranked team. The excitement was like never before on the West End at the Nashville stadium, as fans and students stormed the field to celebrate the program’s biggest win in years.
Nearly overcome with emotion, Pavia almost leaped into the stands to celebrate with his family. Instead, his family and the rest of the student body joined him on the field in a celebration that swept through the stadium.
When asked how he felt after beating the No. 1 team in the country, Pavia humbly credited the moment to divine timing. “It’s all God’s timing,” he said. “Since I was a little kid, God gave me a vision, and He hasn’t let back on any promises. I’m super thankful.”
The upset came just a week after Alabama defeated Georgia, proving once again why college football is full of surprises and very unpredictable, at least Nick Saban “can eat his words” after this.