Following a home triumph over Utah State, then-No. 16 Vanderbilt Football team travelled to Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide. In a rematch from the Commodores’ shocking upset last year, the Crimson Tide got its revenge, taking the game 30-14.
The first half was gritty and competitive for both sides, as the game was knotted up at 14 apiece through 30 minutes. After halftime, however, Vanderbilt’s offense could not seem to regain its rhythm. The Commodore defense held its own against a talented Alabama offense, but three straight field goals were enough to seal the game for the Crimson Tide.
The stat sheet from the outing shows the margins that allowed Alabama to hand Vanderbilt its first loss of the season.
One half on the wheel
In their five games entering Tuscaloosa, the Commodores outscored their opponents in the second half 120-29. Against the Crimson Tide, though, they were shut out 16-0 after the halftime break. The offense fell stagnant, especially the run game, which was limited to just nine yards, compared to its 127 yards in the first half. Alabama’s ground attack, however, thrived down the stretch, as running back Jam Miller had the majority of his 136 yards in the second. This also helped the Crimson Tide control the game clock.
Coming out of the locker room, Alabama dominated the time of possession the rest of the way, as it allowed Vanderbilt only 9:42 of second-half possession time, limiting the Commodores’ ability to move the ball. This was the opposite turnout of last year’s bout between the two teams, where Vanderbilt’s control of the ball was a leading factor in its victory.
White-tail buck deer
Diego Pavia was not himself down the stretch against Alabama. Perhaps his trash-talking coming into this game put an especially large target on his back. As a result, Pavia was pressured hard and frequently.
Pavia had both an interception and a fumble on the day. He also had a season-low completion percentage of 58% and QBR of 53.7. The graduate student struggled to find success within his signature run game. Aside from one breakaway 36-yard carry, he had just 22 rushing yards on 11 attempts — some of the worst rushing numbers of his collegiate career. Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson was particularly effective at making Pavia uncomfortable, finishing the game with 14 tackles and forcing the quarterback’s only fumble.
Not held up tight
Vanderbilt has allowed just 199 passing yards per game so far in the 2025 season, a big difference compared to the 259 yards per game the Commodores average through the air. Alabama is a pass-heavy offense that is at its best when quarterback Ty Simpson is throwing downfield to top receivers Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton.
These receivers torched the Commodores’ secondary, especially in man coverage, as Simpson finished the day with 340 yards and two passing touchdowns, 98 of which were to Williams. The sophomore’s speed and route-running were on full display, showing why he is one of college football’s household names. Vanderbilt’s pass rush is partially responsible for this statistic, as it allowed Simpson plenty of time in the pocket to find his receivers downfield.
Sweet home Alabama
While Vanderbilt has already survived and thrived in harsh environments this season, Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium was especially raucous. 100,077 fans waved their towels and screamed “Roll Tide” throughout the entire game. While the Commodores seemed to give in to it, especially as the crowd’s noise intensified, the team remained relatively composed and did not have any false-start penalties. Vanderbilt is set to travel to two stadiums with an even higher capacity — Texas and Tennessee — later this year. The ‘Dores will have to reflect on this experience and their shortcomings to succeed on the road.
Tennessee bye-way
While the loss to Alabama was a heartbreaking one, the Commodores have the liberty of taking a bye week to recover from the game. On the other side is a home stand against No. 11 LSU and No. 14 Missouri. Heading into Week 7, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) still ranks the Commodores as the No. 16 team in the nation with a 31.8% chance to make the College Football Playoff (CFP). Having the time to recover mentally and physically from the Crimson Tide and prepare for both Tiger teams coming to Nashville will be very important for Vanderbilt, as its quest for CFP contention is very much still alive.
No. 20 Vanderbilt Football will host the LSU Tigers on Oct. 18 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
