In what is perhaps the biggest upset in the history of SEC football, unranked Vanderbilt defeated No. 1 Alabama today, 40-35.
The Commodores were 24.5-point underdogs and 21-to-1 to win against the Crimson Tide, who just seven days ago stunned Georgia to become the No. 1 team in the nation. Every metric out there indicated that Alabama would not only beat the Commodores but blow them out by multiple touchdowns.
Yet within a few minutes of starting the game, things felt different.
Vanderbilt surprised everyone by racing out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter off an opening drive touchdown followed by a pick-six of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. Led by quarterback Diego Pavia, the Commodores scored on each of their first three drives and on three straight drives in the second half. But Alabama would not go away quietly, keeping the game reasonably close throughout.
Fans would have been more than justified in believing that Alabama would come back, but the Commodores would not relent on either offense or defense.
The Commodores seemed to be on the verge of history with a Kamrean Johnson touchdown reception in middle of the fourth quarter to make the game 40-28. But Alabama answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by a Ryan Williams end-around to make it 40-35 Vanderbilt.
Pavia got the ball back with just under three minutes to play and led the team down the field with just enough first downs to win.
Ross Dellenger summed up pretty well how historic this win was:
Clark Lea and the Vanderbilt Commodores beat No. 1 Alabama 40-35:
– first win over a Top-5 opponent in school history (were 0-60)
– first win over Bama since 1984
– most points against Bama since 1906
– only 4th time a No. 1 Bama team lost to an unranked opponent in 68 tries— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 5, 2024
Vanderbilt never trailed, did not turn the ball over, did not allow a sack and dominated Alabama on the ground.
Something tells us that this game could be course-altering for both football programs.
Any. Given. Saturday.
Related: Fans Are Laughing At Alabama While Trailing Vanderbilt At Halftime