No. 16 Vanderbilt Football (5-1) fell to No. 10 Alabama (4-1), 30-14, on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Bryant-Denny Stadium. This was one of the weekend’s most anticipated college football matchups, with ESPN’s College GameDay on Alabama’s campus on Saturday. The Commodores couldn’t keep up with the Crimson Tide’s offense, though, as Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson threw for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day.  

The Commodores’ offense struggled to find any momentum in the second half, racking up just 9 rushing yards and 102 passing yards in the final 30 minutes. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia had a season-low 58% completion rate and gave up two red zone turnovers — an interception and fumble.

“Obviously, a disappointing afternoon for us,” head coach Clark Lea said after the game. “We knew this would be won on third downs and in the red zone, and especially in the second half, we failed in those situations.”

First half 

Vanderbilt won the toss and opted to defer, giving Simpson and the Crimson Tide the ball first. Running back Jam Miller found a big hole for the first down to get things started, before a roughing the passer penalty on Vanderbilt’s Miles Capers put the Crimson Tide inside the Commodores’ territory. Vanderbilt forced a fourth-and-inches, but Alabama decided to go for it instead of kicking a field goal. Simpson hurled the ball deep, but Vanderbilt cornerback Martel Hight was there for the interception with 9:47 to go in the first quarter. 

Pavia immediately went to work on his first drive, connecting on quick passes to Eli Stowers and Tristen Brown. Running back Sedrick Alexander then found a big hole on the right side for a 65-yard rushing touchdown as the Commodores struck first to go up 7-0 with 6:44 to go in the quarter.  

Simpson was set back by an early holding call on the Crimson Tide’s next drive, but a 35-yard connection to Alabama’s Isaiah Horton put it back in Vanderbilt’s territory. Another Miller burst brought the Crimson Tide to the 29-yard-line, but two straight incompletions set them up for a field goal try. Kicker Conor Talty missed the 47-yard try, though, giving the ball back to Pavia with 3:45 remaining in the first quarter.  

Pavia immediately broke through for a 36-yard gain on the quarterback keeper to start Vanderbilt’s second drive. Back-to-back completions to tight end Cole Spence and wide receiver Richie Hoskins put the Commodores at the opposing 17-yard-line. On third-and-10, Pavia tried to break through with his legs but fumbled the ball to give possession to Alabama. The call was upheld after a review.  

Some big chunk yardage runs from Miller planted the Crimson Tide at midfield as the first quarter ended. A connection from Simpson to receiver Germie Bernard pushed Alabama past the 50-yard-line as it tried to finally put some points on the board. Vanderbilt stuffed Simpson on third down, setting up an all-important fourth down attempt for Alabama. It converted the attempt, and Simpson proceeded to find wide receiver Ryan Williams in the end zone to tie it up at 7-7 with 9:22 left in the half.  

Junior Sherrill picked up a 15-yard gain to kick off the drive, but Vanderbilt was promptly stopped on third down, and Nick Haberer punted it away. Vanderbilt defensive lineman Joshua Singh recorded a sack on the first play of the drive, though, knocking the Crimson Tide back near their own goal line. Three consecutive stops later, and the Commodores found themselves with the ball at Alabama’s 38-yard-line after a punt with 5:56 to go.  

A quick strike to Hoskins set up a first down and pushed the Commodores into the red zone. A shovel pass to Alexander gained 10 as the Commodores got to the 15-yard-line. A few plays later, the junior punched it in from four yards out to make it 14-7 with 1:33 left in the half.  

Simpson and Co. stormed down the field as time dwindled, with completions to Williams, Horton and Bernard to get into the red zone. A 27-yard touchdown strike to Bernard tied the game back up at 14-apiece. Pavia kneeled out the half as both teams went to the locker room knotted up.  

Vanderbilt’s rushing attack was the star of the first half, accumulating 126 total yards led by Alexander. Pavia threw for 88 yards at a 69% completion rate. 

Second half 

Pavia and Co. got the ball to begin the second half. A quick find to Sherrill was successful for an initial first down, but Alabama’s defense was able to force a fourth down and a punt just over two minutes into the quarter. 

Simpson had a 54-yard completion to Williams to begin Alabama’s drive; however, the Commodores earned a stop to force a field goal. Talty knocked it through to give the Crimson Tide a 17-14 lead with 9:15 left in the quarter.  

The Commodores went three-and-out on its next drive after Pavia was stuffed in the backfield on a third-and-short attempt. Simpson went right back to work on Alabama’s second drive of the half, finding Lotzeir Brooks for a 30-yard gain. The veteran quarterback continued to execute at a high level, finding Bernard and Williams on several big plays downfield. Still, Vanderbilt’s defense did not break, getting a big stop at the 20-yard-line to force yet another field goal. Talty hit once again to make it 20-14 with 1:17 left in the third.  

Pavia connected with tight end Cole Spence for a big pickup to begin the fourth quarter. However, the graduate quarterback threw a costly pick — intended for Stowers — with 12:37 to go in the game. It was his second red zone turnover of the day.  

Alabama then embarked on an eight-minute drive to put the game away. Simpson completed five straight passes to march down into Vanderbilt territory. Miller earned multiple solid pickups to get two first downs and use up the time on the clock. Miller had even more success in the red zone, but eventually, the Commodores got a stop on third down. Talty knocked in the 30-yarder to give Alabama the 23-14 lead with just 4:08 left in the game.  

Pavia had one last drive to avoid the second half shutout. He threw another interception well in his own territory, but it was overturned due to a defensive holding penalty. An 8-yard completion to Stowers pushed the Commodores to the 39-yard-line, but three straight incompletions turned the ball over on downs.  

Alabama added some salt to Vanderbilt’s wound, as Miller punched in a touchdown from 20 yards out to make it 30-14 with just 17 seconds left on the clock. Vanderbilt couldn’t execute its offense in the second half, accumulating just 9 rushing yards and 102 passing yards in the final 30 minutes.

Vanderbilt gets a bye week next Saturday but will return to action against the LSU Tigers on Oct. 18.