Vanderbilt Football Earns First SEC Win Since 2011 with Big Victory

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt’s football team celebrated a significant milestone on Saturday, defeating No. 11 South Carolina 31-7 at Williams-Brice Stadium. This victory marks Vanderbilt’s first win in a conference opener since 2011 against Ole Miss and snaps a 16-game losing streak against the Gamecocks.

The Commodores improved to 3-0 this season, the first time they have started the season with three consecutive wins since 2017. Quarterback Diego Pavia led the charge, throwing for 177 yards and two touchdowns, achieving a rare feat by becoming the first Vanderbilt quarterback to have multiple touchdown games in four straight contests since 2012.

Vanderbilt’s defense also stood out, forcing four turnovers, the most for the team since October 2022. Linebacker Nick Rinaldi made notable contributions with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, while safety CJ Heard led the team with 12 tackles. The Commodores allowed only 86 rushing yards, showcasing their dominance on the defensive side.

After falling behind early, Vanderbilt quickly responded to tie the game with a touchdown pass from Pavia to running back Sedrick Alexander. They took control of the game with two more touchdowns, ensuring they wouldn’t relinquish the lead for the rest of the game. This win is also significant as it was the largest margin of victory for Vanderbilt over South Carolina in series history.

Looking forward, the Commodores will host Georgia State next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at FirstBank Stadium, marking their first game as an AP ranked team in September since 1956. Fans can watch the game on ESPNU.