No. 18 Vanderbilt took down Utah State, 55-35, on Saturday afternoon to improve to 5-0 — the program’s best start to a season since 2008. The Commodores played a tight first quarter but eventually took over the game, scoring 24 points in the second half.  

The Commodores also held Utah State to just 14 points in the second half, containing star Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes to 161 yards. Vanderbilt’s defense also gave up just 119 rushing yards as its defensive line stepped up to earn the win.  

Here are three takeaways from Vanderbilt’s victory on Saturday.  

Pavia’s precision 

Diego Pavia has looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this season, and the stats back it up. The graduate quarterback was very efficient against Utah State, completing 76% of his passes for 321 yards. He also threw 5 touchdowns, all while rushing for 79 yards and a score. The New Mexico native always seems to keep the offense under control and is using both his arm and legs to hurt opposing defenses. Pavia also set the program record for passing touchdowns on Saturday while he earned his first 300+ yard passing game in a Vanderbilt uniform. 

Pavia isn’t just putting up huge numbers on the stat sheet; he’s orchestrating the entire offense effortlessly. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s schemes are working to perfection as Pavia seems to be in his element. He’s hitting on the small throws while finding gaps on the line of scrimmage to burst through with his legs. Similarly, the consistent options plays — usually a mix of read and triple options — are tricking opposing defenses very effectively.  

Pavia is already in the Heisman discussion by some media outlets, and this performance on Saturday certainly helps his cause.  

Junior Sherrill  

Junior Sherrill was slated to be WR1 for Clark Lea and the Commodores in fall camp. He hadn’t flashed insane stats through the first four games of the season, but he surely made his presence known in Vanderbilt’s contest against Utah State. The Nashville native caught 3 touchdowns with 91 receiving yards.  

Sherrill flashed his speed on the edge while showcasing his elite ball-handling skills. He caught two 18-yard touchdown passes as well as one 21-yard touchdown grab to rack up Vanderbilt’s point total. It definitely helped that Pavia perfectly placed the ball on all three of those passes.  

The junior will need to step up in a big way as the season progresses. Fellow receiver Tre Richardson (6 receptions for 74 yards) also came up clutch against the Aggies, giving this Vanderbilt team an added boost in the receiving room. Still, Sherrill is Pavia’s primary deep threat, and he certainly proved his worth as Vanderbilt’s top receiver on Saturday.  

A dominant defensive line 

Vanderbilt’s defense was suffocating on Saturday afternoon, racking up 8 tackles for loss with three sacks. The Commodores’ defensive line put plenty of pressure on Barnes and held the Aggies to just 119 yards on the ground. Edge Miles Capers led the team with a sack and 2.5 TFLs while Linus Zunk had two sacks.   

Performances like these prove that Vanderbilt’s defensive front is much improved from 2024. They’re consistently making opposing offenses uncomfortable. The blitz packages worked to perfection as the Commodores recorded 8 quarterback hurries. Vanderbilt’s interior defensive linemen — notably Jaylon Stone and Zaylin Wood — also stuffed up any potential running lanes.  

This solid play on the defensive line is taking pressure off Vanderbilt’s secondary — arguably one of its weaker rooms on the defense. Opposing quarterbacks, including Barnes, just don’t have the time to find open receivers downfield. Vanderbilt is winning on the line of scrimmage, and it’s benefiting the entire defense. 

Vanderbilt took this game with ease, leaving no doubt that it should sit firmly in the top 25 of the AP Poll for the third-straight week. The crowds were amped in FirstBank Stadium as the Commodores continued their historic season on Saturday.