How Vanderbilt football got its first win over Tennessee since 2018

KNOXVILLE ― Junior Sherrill caught a pass in stride and turned downfield towards the red zone. He lost the ball before he got there.

Sedrick Alexander was there to clean up his teammate's mistake. He recovered the forward fumble, even gaining three yards on the play.

A few plays later, Alexander broke off a 28-yard touchdown run. No. 12 Vanderbilt football went on to win the game against No. 18 Tennessee, 45-24 on Nov. 29 at Neyland Stadium. Alexander scored three touchdowns in the game and had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. The Commodores (10-2, 6-2 SEC) notched their first 10-win season in program history while beating the Vols (8-4, 4-4) for the first time since 2018.

"I definitely think that was just hustle," Alexander said of his recovered fumble. "I could've easily took off when the play stayed toward the line of scrimmage and a Tennessee player could've fallen on the ball but me just following the ball gave me the best chance to go follow it."

Quarterback Diego Pavia had another vintage game, throwing for 268 yards and running for 165 more. But he started off shaky after feeling sick prior to the game and threw two first-half interceptions. Others, like Alexander, picked him up.

Tre Richardson (six catches, 75 yards, 1 touchdown) and Eli Stowers (five catches, 64 yards) were the Commodores' leading receivers. But it was the run game that really shined. Vanderbilt put up 314 yards on the ground on 37 carries.

"Up front, they wanted to run the ball," Pavia said. "They literally kept saying, run the effing ball."

After the game, Vanderbilt fans celebrated by singing "Rocky Top" as the players sung along. They chanted for Pavia to win the Heisman. The players smoked cigars in the locker room and sung along to "Swag Surfin'," the same song they used after becoming bowl eligible a year ago.

That was the catharsis the Commodores experienced as they conquered an opponent that has eluded them under Clark Lea. Vanderbilt beat Alabama in 2024 while ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, but the Commodores hadn't beaten the Vols, or even come close, in Lea's tenure. When Pavia made comments on a preseason podcast about "running Tennessee," perhaps he was prophetic.

"A lot of people thought I was a fool and just speaking about whatever, but all it takes is faith," Pavia said. " ... I just spoke my mind that day, and I think a lot of people's feelings were hurt, but it felt good to obviously come in and back it up."

Vanderbilt may not qualify for the College Football Playoff, even with 10 wins. More clarity will come with the penultimate rankings release on Dec. 2.

But even if the Commodores don't qualify, this is still a team that will be remembered for a long time. Vanderbilt accomplished history, and it was more than just Pavia pitching in.

Now, the bar is set. Things like running the state, or even a national championship, won't sound so far off when future Commodores say them.

All it takes is faith.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Vanderbilt football beat Tennessee for first time since 2018