Alabama fans went into this year’s matchup against Vanderbilt remembering all too well what happened last season. It was a shocking 35–40 upset loss to the Commodores. The lost derailed the then–No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide and sent shockwaves across college football. That defeat served as a humbling reminder that no game in the SEC can be taken lightly.
Photo Cred: ESPN
The sting of that loss lingered throughout the offseason. When the schedule was released, this game was immediately circled — a chance for redemption, payback, and a statement win to prove Alabama had learned from its mistakes. This time around, the Crimson Tide made sure history didn’t repeat itself, controlling the game from the second quarter onward and defeating Vanderbilt 30–14 in front of a roaring Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd for their second conference victory of the season.
Leading up to kickoff, the tension between the two programs was palpable. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia didn’t shy away from adding fuel to the fire, boldly declaring, “If we play our game, it won’t be close.”
He didn’t stop there — taking a swipe at Alabama’s freshman phenom receiver Ryan Williams by saying, “Kid wouldn’t even be starting at Vanderbilt.” The comments went viral on social media, instantly catching the attention of Tide fans and players alike. During pregame warmups, Pavia doubled down, taunting Alabama’s student section and pretending to take victory kneels near midfield — an act that visibly fired up the Crimson Tide sideline.
Once the game began, it briefly looked like Vanderbilt might back up their quarterback’s words. On Alabama’s opening drive, quarterback Ty Simpson threw his first interception of the season, setting the Commodores up in excellent field position. Moments later, Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run, silencing the home crowd and putting the visitors ahead 7–0. Alabama’s next drive showed promise, but it ended with a missed field goal that drew groans from the stands. The Tide defense, however, wasted no time making a stand — linebacker Justin Jefferson forced a red-zone fumble on Vanderbilt’s ensuing possession, flipping momentum back to the home team.
Photo Cred: Alabama
Capitalizing on the turnover, Alabama methodically drove downfield, and Simpson connected with Ryan Williams on a 14-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 7–7 early in the second quarter. The play was a statement — the same player Pavia had dismissed earlier in the week found the end zone first for Alabama. From there, both teams settled into a rhythm. After a series of defensive stops, Vanderbilt regained the lead on a short touchdown pass to Alexander, his second score of the night.
But Alabama quickly answered with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Simpson to Germie Bernard, evening things up at 14–14 going into halftime and giving the Tide momentum heading into the locker room. Coming out of the break, Alabama’s defense began to assert its dominance. The Tide forced two quick punts and turned both possessions into field goals, taking a 20–14 lead midway through the third quarter. Vanderbilt mounted one more serious threat late in the quarter, driving deep into Alabama territory before Diego Pavia’s pass was intercepted by safety Keon Sabb in the red zone.
That takeaway deflated the Commodores’ offense and energized the home crowd. With the game beginning to tilt in their favor, the Tide leaned on their ground game and clock management. Alabama orchestrated an eight-minute drive capped off by another field goal to stretch the lead to two scores. The Commodores’ final drive stalled on downs, and with just over two minutes remaining, running back Jam Miller slammed the door shut on Vanderbilt’s hopes with a 20-yard touchdown run to seal the 30–14 victory.
After the game, head coach Kalen DeBoer praised his team’s maturity and focus following last year’s disappointment. “I’m really proud of the way the guys responded,” DeBoer said. “That goes back to doing your job and staying locked in on what we can control. Our guys came to practice every day with intent and focus, and it showed tonight.”
The win not only exorcised the ghosts of last season’s stunning loss but also gave Alabama momentum heading into a pivotal stretch of conference play. The Crimson Tide now turn their attention to a high-stakes road matchup against the undefeated Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium — a game that could have major implications for the SEC title race.
