Underdog Vanderbilt Upsets No. 1 Alabama 40-35 for First Win Over Tide Since 1984

Oct 5, 2024, 11:48 PM

Vanderbilt University stunned the college football world by defeating No. 1 Alabama 40-35, marking their first win over a top-ranked team in school history and their first victory over Alabama since 1984. The 23.5-point underdog Commodores took an early 13-0 lead and extended it to 23-14 at halftime—their first halftime lead over a No. 1 team since 1977. Quarterback Diego Pavia delivered a standout performance, completing 16 of 20 passes for 252 yards, throwing two touchdowns, and rushing for 57 yards. Vanderbilt scored the most points against Alabama since 1906 and snapped their 0-60 record against AP top-five opponents. Fans celebrated the historic upset by tearing down the goalposts.