Here's a look back at Vanderbilt football's shocking upset win over Alabama in 2024 and the celebrations which ensued in the aftermath.
Vanderbilt football plays Alabama on Oct. 4 with a different mindset than last season, but 2024's historic upset over the Crimson Tide is something the Commodores won't soon forget.
Vanderbilt was reeling from two straight losses when in came Alabama, then-ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll and No. 2 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. The Commodores were 0-60 against AP top-five ranked opponents prior to the matchup, before shocking the nation with a 40-35 victory.
It was Vanderbilt's first win over a top-10 team since 2007, snapping a 24-game losing streak against the Crimson Tide which had dated back to 1984 (including a 1993 win by Alabama which was later vacated).
Here's a look back at the Commodores' upset over Alabama, and the madness that ensued after, ahead of their SEC matchup on Oct. 5 in Tuscaloosa.
How Vanderbilt football upset Alabama in 2024?
Vanderbilt never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and continually staving off the encroaching Crimson Tide. Alabama closed the gap to 13-7 before two second quarter scoring drives by Vanderbilt would extend the lead to 23-7, eating 13:52 of clock in the process.
Alabama wouldn't go away though, with scores late in the second quarter and early in the third bringing the Vanderbilt lead back down to just two points. The two sides then went back and forth down the stretch, with a Pavia touchdown pass to Junior Sherrill being matched by Jalen Milroe's 58-yard strike to Ryan Williams.
The fourth quarter is when the Commodores pulled away to secure the win, scoring an early field goal before the defense forced a fumble to set up Vanderbilt's final score of the game to take a 40-28 lead. The Crimson Tide would score with under three minutes remaining, ultimately falling short of the win.
Fans throw goalposts in Cumberland river
The aftermath of Vanderbilt's win was mayhem as fans flooded the field in ecstatic celebration, before soon turning to the goalposts, which before long would be floating down the Cumberland River.
It was reminiscent of the celebrations following Tennessee's win over Alabama in 2022, in which fans tore down and carried the goalposts to the riverfront in Knoxville blocks away from Neyland Stadium, tossing the uprights in.
Vanderbilt's fans had a far longer journey. After roughly 15 minutes of pulling, Commodores students were able to take down the goalposts in the south end zone, before heading north to circumvent construction in the south end of the stadium.
Fans then carried the goalposts 2.5 miles, down West End before hitting Broadway and eventually the Cumberland River, where they'd send the goalposts into the water. The goalposts were later retrieved from the water before being cut up and actioned off by Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt shades Nick Saban following win
Vanderbilt poked fun at legendary former Alabama coach Nick Saban in the aftermath of its upset win.
Saban had stated earlier in the season on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" that, "... the only place in the SEC that's not hard to play at is Vanderbilt. When you play at Vanderbilt, you have more fans there than they have. And that is no disrespect to them, it is just the truth."
Following the Commodores' win, a clip of Saban's comments was played over the video board inside FirstBank Stadium.
On Vanderbilt’s video board: pic.twitter.com/RmHSVEOVrR
— Aria Gerson (@aria_gerson) October 5, 2024
Diego Pavia stats in 2024 upset over Alabama
Diego Pavia took a star turn in the Commodores' win over Alabama, and has remained in the limelight since. He led Vanderbilt to the historic win, going 16-of-20 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns which rushing for an additional 56 yards.
Vanderbilt's Sedrick Alexander rushed for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the game, while Eli Stowers added six receptions for 113 yards.
Harrison Campbell covers high school sports for The Daily Herald and The Tennessean. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Vanderbilt football upset No. 1 Alabama in 2024 historic win
Category: General Sports
