The Vanderbilt Commodores recorded arguably the biggest win in program history Saturday by upsetting top-ranked Alabama, 40-35.
The Crimson Tide won the opening toss and deferred. And Vanderbilt immediately drove down the field for a 7-yard touchdown run by Sedrick Alexander to take the lead.
It was the first time since 2007 Vandy had opened a game against Alabama with a touchdown, and that was Nick Saban’s second game as coach. Alabama rallied and won that day 24-10.
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The Commodores carried a 23-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Vanderbilt added 17 points in the second half and held off a furious comeback attempt from No. 1 Alabama to secure the upset victory in Nashville.
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Jalen Milroe, among the top Heisman Trophy candidates after he delivered a dazzling performance last week in Tuscaloosa to hold off Georgia, finished Saturday’s loss with 312 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Prior to Saturday, Vanderbilt last defeated Alabama on Sept. 29, 1984.
Vanderbilt fans danced onto the field, jumping up and down as they celebrated the school’s historic win on Saturday. Fans eventually tore down a goal post, carried it out of the stadium and rang out sweet sounds of victory. Then they toted the goal post just over a couple miles, before tossing it into the Cumberland River.
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said the moment felt like a dream.
“This is the dream, right here,” Lea said. “And for the next 12 hours, I’m going to enjoy the dream. We’ve got more ahead of us, but this is what Vanderbilt football needs to be about: Big wins on big stages. We’re going to go get some more.”
First-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said it’s back to work for a team that wasn’t at its best against Vanderbilt.
“We’re going to find out really how much we care about each other and what it looks like moving forward,” DeBoer said. “We’ve been tested in different ways really a lot of the games here this season, and this is a different type of test now in our response.”
Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson said it’s early and everything remains in front of the Tide. “We never want to feel this again,” he said.
Saturday’s improbable win improved Vanderbilt’s record to 3-2, while Alabama lost for the first time. The Crimson Tide return home next week and will try to bounce back against South Carolina.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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