CNN
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A week after Alabama earned the No. 1 ranking by defeating longtime rivals the Georgia Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide were stunned by Vanderbilt 40-35 in Nashville on Saturday.
Despite never beating a top five team in its program history, the Commodores did not trail against Alabama.
Vanderbilt jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and was able to withstand pressure from the high-powered Alabama offense, led by quarterback and Heisman hopeful Jalen Milroe and 17-year-old freshman phenom wide receiver Ryan Williams.
Just after halftime, Milroe scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 23-21. However, Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia answered the bell by throwing a touchdown of his own to extend Vandy’s lead.
On the next Alabama possession, Milroe threw up a 58-yard pass to Williams, who made an acrobatic catch and stayed in bounds to yet again cut into the lead and make it a 30-28 game.
Vanderbilt would then answer yet again, kicking a field goal and adding another Pavia touchdown to extend their lead to 40-28.
With the clock ticking down to just under five minutes left in the game and their backs against the wall, the Crimson Tide needed a touchdown to stay in the game. Alabama drove down the field and found the end zone on a two-yard rushing touchdown by Williams.
The Vanderbilt offense didn’t flinch as they ran out the clock and secure the win as fans rushed the field at FirstBank Stadium.
Coming into Saturday’s game, Vanderbilt was 0-60 all-time against top five opponents, the most losses without a win in NCAA history.
Pavia finished with 252 yards passing, two touchdowns and 57 yards rushing. Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander added two touchdowns.
Commodores head coach Clark Lea told the SEC Network it took the team everything they had to defeat Alabama.
“That’s a really good football team,” Lea said. “This is the dream right here and for the next 12 hours, I am going to enjoy the dream. We got more ahead of us but this is what Vanderbilt football needs to be about. Big wins on big stages. We are going to get some more.”
Vanderbilt snaps a 23-game losing streak against Alabama and gets its first win against the Crimson Tide since 1984.
Vanderbilt improves to 3-2 while Alabama falls to 4-1 on the season.
Vanderbilt is next scheduled to play Kentucky on the road next week. Alabama will host South Carolina.
