Oct 26, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) scrambles against the Texas Longhorns  during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt vie to fluster Auburn

Vanderbilt will make a second attempt to become bowl eligible on Saturday afternoon when it visits Auburn.

The Commodores (5-3, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) saw their three-game winning streak snapped in a 27-24 defeat against then-No. 5 Texas last Saturday.

Auburn (3-5, 1-4), in turn, halted a four-game losing streak with a 24-10 win at Kentucky on Saturday.

The Tigers recorded a 31-16 victory over the Commodores last season in Nashville in large part due to Jarquez Hunter, who rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

But the game at the forefront of this week’s conversation is Auburn’s 2023 contest with New Mexico State that came two weeks later.

In that game, Diego Pavia — who is now Vanderbilt’s quarterback — completed 19 of 28 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns and added eight carries for 35 yards. Tight end Eli Stowers had four receptions for 48 yards and a score in a 31-10 win for the Aggies.

Those two are now starring for the Commodores, whose coach, Clark Lea, designed his 2024 offensive strategy around the players. Joining Lea in Nashville are the same coach (Jerry Kill, now an offensive analyst) and offensive coordinator (Tim Beck), who engineered last year’s upset.

“I’m sick of seeing that quarterback. I’ve had enough of him,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said jokingly when referring to Pavia on Monday. “He moves and makes plays and is savvy and is smart and tough and again makes everybody do their assignment on every single play or you get burned.”

That’s a potential nightmare for Auburn, which ranks 125th nationally in turnover margin (minus-9).

Still, the Tigers’ defense has overcome much of that, allowing an average of 19.5 points per game (26th nationally).

“Defensively, they’re fast and physical and they cover you up,” Lea said. “Their forced incompletion rate is among the best in the country. It’s a group that plays with an identity, plays with an edge. Space will be hard to come by. We’ve got to create it.”

–Field Level Media

Quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) dives as he's tackled by cornerback Martel Hight (25) of the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Commodores defeated the Wildcats 20-13 at Kroger Field Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Lexington, Ky.

Vanderbilt vies to pick up more steam in encounter vs. Ball State

Vanderbilt will look to build on rare momentum when it faces Ball State on Saturday night in a non-conference game in Nashville, Tenn.

The Commodores (4-2) followed a stunning upset of top-ranked Alabama with a 20-13 win at Kentucky last Saturday.

Vanderbilt, which did not trail in either game, has three upsets over Power 4 teams as double-digit underdogs this year. A 34-27 overtime win over Virginia Tech on Aug. 31 was the other upset.

The Commodores, who finished 2-10 last season, now will be in the unfamiliar position of being a heavy favorite over the Cardinals (2-4), who recorded a 37-35 victory at Kent State last Saturday.

Vanderbilt dual-threat quarterback Diego Pavia has completed 69.1 percent of his throws for 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns while running for 388 yards and two scores this season.

Pavia has helped the Commodores extend drives and enjoy a sizable advantage in time of possession.

“We need at least two first downs in a series to feel like we’re playing within our strategy,” coach Clark Lea said. “That involves staying ahead of the chains and getting into third-and-manageable. The runs that were 2 and 3 yards needed to become 5 and 6 yards, and they did against Kentucky. Avoiding third down becomes a really important way to extend possession of the ball. That’s through both design and execution.”

Keeping Pavia healthy could be a challenge. He went to the injury tent twice against Kentucky and returned with a knee brace for the first play of the fourth quarter.

Ball State, meanwhile, has struggled defensively, allowing an average of 46 points a game and 504.2 yards per contest. But there were bright spots in the Kent State game, including a three-sack performance from linebacker Brandon Berger.

The Cardinals present more of a challenge offensively. They’re averaging 27 points and 339 total yards per game this season.

Quarterback Kadin Semonza and tight end Tanner Koziol connected eight times for 43 yards vs. Kent State.

“The qualities that he brings from a leadership standpoint, he’s the same every day,” Ball State offensive coordinator Jared Elliott said of Koziol.

Vanderbilt lost starting defensive end Miles Capers during the first half of the Kentucky game with a neck strain.

On Tuesday, Lea said Capers was questionable for Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Vanderbilt Commodores    Miles Capers during the Vanderbilt Spring Game at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville , Tenn., Saturday, April 16, 2022.

Spring Game004

Vanderbilt DE Miles Capers stretchered off field vs. Kentucky

Vanderbilt defensive end Miles Capers was taken off the field via stretcher during the second quarter against Kentucky on Saturday night.

Capers took a shot to the head after colliding with a teammate on a 6-yard rush by Wildcats running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye with 10:33 remaining in the first half. He was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a local-area hospital, where he was reportedly in stable condition.

Prior to exiting the game, Capers had three tackles.

Capers, a senior, entered Saturday with 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble in five games (all starts) this season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA;  Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) passes the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Resurgent Vanderbilt poses tough test for Kentucky

Two teams coming off monumental wins will meet Saturday night in Lexington, Ky., when Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt in a Southeastern Conference clash.

Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1) scored the biggest win in program history last Saturday, shocking then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35.

Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia was 16-of-20 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 56 yards. Vanderbilt didn’t turn the ball over and held it for just over 42 minutes.

Kentucky (3-2, 1-2) stunned then-sixth-ranked Ole Miss 20-17 in Oxford, Miss., in its most recent game Sept. 28.

Quarterback Brock Vandagriff (243 yards, one touchdown) had his best game in his first season with the Wildcats, and the defense held the Rebels to 353 yards.

Both teams also have felt the sting of disappointment.

For Vanderbilt, that came in a 36-32 loss at Georgia State on Sept. 14.

“We’ve got to double down on our technique, double down on what we do regardless of who we play because everybody is going to play hard no matter what the type of game it is,” Commodores running back Sedrick Alexander said.

Kentucky has come a long way since losing 31-6 in its conference opener to South Carolina on Sept. 7, and Wildcats coach Mark Stoops acknowledged this week to reporters that Vanderbilt has, too. The Commodores haven’t had a winning season since 2013.

“Coming into this press conference, I don’t have to work about selling Vanderbilt anymore and telling you how good they are, how good (coach) Clark Lea has done,” Stoops said, referencing the Commodores’ big win.

Vanderbilt’s offense vs. the Wildcats’ defense will be the strength-on-strength matchup everyone wants to see.

Kentucky has allowed an average of just 13.4 points per contest, ranking 11th nationally.

The Wildcats feature standouts across the field, including 6-foot-6, 345-pound defensive tackle Deone Walker, experienced edge players in D’Eryk Jackson (a team-leading 26 tackles) and J.J. Weaver (three sacks), along with cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who had a pair of pick-6s against the Commodores last season.

Alabama never solved Vanderbilt’s option-based plays last week and also had trouble with shovel passes to tight end Eli Stowers (25 catches, 333 yards), who’s also thrown a touchdown this season.

Kentucky receivers Dane Key, Barion Brown and Ja’Mori Maclin could cause issues against a defense that’s had trouble with athletic wideouts.

However, the Wildcats have allowed 15 sacks and thrown four interceptions, which could be an issue against a defense that forced two turnovers (one, a Randon Fontenette pick-6) vs. Alabama.

–Field Level Media

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne (1) runs the ball against Vanderbilt during the first quarter at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

Auburn cruises to 31-15 win over Vanderbilt

Jarquez Hunter rushed for 183 yards and had two long first-quarter touchdown runs, helping visiting Auburn open up an early lead it never relinquished in a 31-15 win at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn.

Auburn (5-4, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) quarterback Payton Thorne passed for 194 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6) totaled just 266 yards of offense, played two quarterbacks and didn’t go over 100 yards of total offense until just under four minutes remained in the third quarter.

The Commodores were 2 of 14 on third downs and were sacked five times.

After Vanderbilt was flagged for pass interference on third down, Thorne hit a wide-open Rivaldo Fairweather for a 53-yard touchdown to put Auburn up 24-7 with 13:36 remaining in the third quarter.

After another of Vandy’s seven punts, the Tigers tacked on more when Thorne hit Jeremiah Cobb with a shovel pass for a 5-yard score with 9:44 left in the third.

Vandy got its first offensive touchdown when Ken Seals found freshman Junior Sherrill across the middle for a 30-yard score that preceded Jayden McGowan’s 2-point conversion rush.

The Commodores forced a punt and drove to the Auburn 11. But a sack pushed Vandy back, setting up an unsuccessful fourth-and-15 with 5:48 left in the game.

Auburn’s Nehemiah Pritchett intercepted Seals with 1:50 left.

The Tigers had 226 yards to Vandy’s 93 in taking a 17-7 halftime lead.

Auburn’s Hunter ran through a gaping hole between center and left guard, dashing 67 yards for a touchdown exactly five minutes in on the Tigers’ second snap.

Hunter later found a hole on the right side of center, broke a few arm tackles and rumbled 56 yards for another touchdown at 3:01 of the first.

Vandy finally got on the board when Bryce Cowan jumped a Thorne pass at the Auburn 4 and easily scored with 12:15 left in the second quarter.

The Tigers had first-and-goal from the Vandy 3 inside the first half’s final minute. But a personal foul pushed Auburn back and eventually forced Alex McPherson’s 32-yard field goal with 20 seconds left.

Vanderbilt has now lost eight straight.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) rolls out to pass against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn hopes offense builds on progress vs. skidding Vanderbilt

Auburn hopes to inch closer to bowl eligibility when it visits Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

The Tigers (4-4, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) had their best offensive performance in league play in last Saturday’s 27-13 win over Mississippi State. Quarterback Payton Thorne was 20 of 26 for 230 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Jarquez Hunter had 170 yards from scrimmage (144 rushing, 26 receiving) on 19 touches.

Coach Hugh Freeze had rotated quarterbacks, but Robby Ashford had less involvement in the offense (no pass attempts, two rushes for 8 yards) than in any Auburn game this season.

“Offensively, it was our best-balanced performance, for sure,” Freeze said. “It was good to see our receivers make some plays and our quarterback play with some confidence.”

This week offers a chance at continued improvement for Auburn. Vanderbilt ranks last in the SEC in total defense (436.8) and scoring defense (34.2).

But offense was also a problem for Vandy (2-7, 0-5) in last week’s 33-7 defeat at Ole Miss.

It appeared that quarterback Ken Seals — who began the season as the backup, but had started the last three games — had won the job, but coach Clark Lea pulled Seals for Walter Taylor in the first half before returning briefly to Seals, then back to Taylor.

Taylor threw the first 12 passes of his career, completing four for 38 yards, and was intercepted once.

Lea’s hope was that Taylor would boost the team’s struggling rushing attack (92.8 yards per game, 3.4 yards per carry). The 6-foot-7, 235-pound sophomore had team highs in rushes (20) and rushing yards (59) last week, and scored the team’s only TD.

This week’s depth chart has the pair listed as co-starters, with Seals listed first.

“As far as this Saturday, I don’t know if I would be a good coach if I discussed the plan,” Lea said.

The Tigers have been solid defensively, ranking sixth in the SEC in scoring defense (22.5) and 10th in total defense (368.4).

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins (4) runs the ball  during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

No. 12 Ole Miss guarding against upset when Vanderbilt visits

No. 12 Ole Miss hopes to take another step toward playing for a conference title when it hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

The Rebels are riding a three-game winning streak, the most recent victory being last Saturday’s 28-21 win at Auburn.

While Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) has primarily been known more for its offense under Lane Kiffin, the Rebels held Auburn to 275 yards a week after limiting Arkansas to 286. It’s the first time Ole Miss has held consecutive SEC opponents to fewer than 300 yards since 2009.

The Rebels, 24 1/2-point favorites over Vandy, trailed the Commodores at halftime last season before a second-half explosion keyed a 52-28 win in Nashville. Kiffin, addressing the issue of how to keep his team from becoming complacent as a heavy favorite, referenced that game as well as Virginia’s upset of North Carolina as tools the Rebels are using to combat that.

“We showed them some upsets that just happened, especially a really big one over in the ACC,” Kiffin said. “These guys were beating us at halftime last year. We’ve got a lot of work to put in, a lot of work to do, so it’s a lot more about us than who we’re playing.”

Ole Miss averages 39.7 points and 480.1 yards per game, with quarterback Jaxson Dart (1,840 yards passing, 346 rushing, 19 total touchdowns) leading the way. The improved health of wide receiver Tre Harris (102 of his 469 receiving yards last week) and tight end Caden Prieskorn (63 of his 125) has made the Rebels even more dangerous.

So has the re-emergence of preseason All-American Quinshon Judkins, who has recovered from a slow start to amass 366 of his 567 rushing yards over Ole Miss’ three-game winning streak.

Vanderbilt (2-6, 0-4) comes off a bye week in the midst of a difficult six-game skid. Last time out, the Commodores gave No. 1 Georgia a brief fourth-quarter scare before falling 37-20 in Nashville.

Turnovers — an SEC-leading 14, with a league-worst nine interceptions — have plagued Vanderbilt this season.

But the Commodores have started to get that under control as coach Clark Lea made Ken Seals the starting quarterback the last three games. In them, Seals has passed for 740 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.

“We’re going to stay the course with Ken,” Lea said. “We appreciate how he’s taken care of the ball. We’ve seen enough in the last few weeks to see Ken has stepped forward with confidence.”

Seals could use some help from the running game, which gained 18 yards on 15 carries vs. Georgia.

Perhaps the team’s biggest problem has been defense. The Commodores have allowed 437.5 yards and 34.4 points per game and a 50 percent conversion rate on third down (57-for-114).

Secondary health has been a part of that. All five of Vandy’s starting defensive backs have missed time with injury.

This week, Lea termed starting safeties De’Rickey Wright and CJ Taylor as “questionable” and “doubtful,” respectively. Starting cornerback BJ Anderson is again out, while starting cornerback Martel Hight (who missed the Georgia game) is back this week.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs after a catch against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Georgia ready to roll again at Vanderbilt

Top-ranked Georgia will set out to extend a 23-game winning streak when it visits Eastern Division rival Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

The Bulldogs (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) haven’t always performed up to the standard that comes with being two-time defending national champions.

Two weeks ago, Georgia beat unranked Auburn, 27-20. Two weeks before that, it needed 21 unanswered second-half points in a 24-14 win over unranked South Carolina.

Last Saturday, Georgia looked more like the team that demolished TCU in last year’s national title game, scoring the first 21 points in a 51-13 rout of then-No. 20 Kentucky.

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart was pleased with the discipline his team showed against the Wildcats.

“Our team had great discipline tonight to not get cheap penalties,” Smart said after the game. “We told them. We said, ‘Hey, look, Kentucky is going to have some penalties. They’ll have guys push you or shove you.’ I just said, ‘Don’t respond.’ I thought our guys were really good.”

More important factors were the play of quarterback Carson Beck (28-of-35 passing, 389 yards, four touchdowns, one interception) and tight end Brock Bowers (seven catches, 132 yards, one score). That was part of a 608-yard outburst against a Kentucky defense that, before Saturday, was allowing 297 yards a game.

The Bulldogs’ defense also finds itself in a familiar position, ranking first in the SEC in scoring defense (13.0) and second in total defense (270 yards), while leading the SEC in fewest yards allowed per play (4.32).

Georgia is getting the job done through depth. The Bulldogs don’t have a player ranked in the top 40 of the SEC’s tackle leaders. Safety Malaki Starks has a pair of interceptions, while defensive back Tykee Smith has three picks.

“There aren’t a lot of holes on this team,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said of the Bulldogs on Tuesday.

Vandy (2-5, 0-3), meanwhile, looks to stop a string of five consecutive losses, the latest coming in Saturday’s 38-14 defeat at Florida. But Georgia has won the past five in the annual series, including the past two by a combined 117-0.

“I think our frustration — and there is frustration — is based off what our expectations were,” Lea said, “and so right now we’re shifting the focus back to improving our team and identifying the areas where we can push forward and build to a better performance on Saturday.”

Interceptions — Vanderbilt has thrown an SEC-worst eight while adding a league-worst five fumbles lost — helped lead to quarterback Ken Seals unseating AJ Swann.

Seals has thrown for 539 yards, four touchdowns and one pick while starting the Commodores’ past two games.

Vandy will need to get wide receiver Will Sheppard (35 catches, 550 yards, eight touchdowns) more involved. The senior reeled in an 85-yard touchdown catch against Florida last week, but caught just two balls for 22 yards otherwise.

The team’s biggest problem may be pass defense. Vandy ranks 12th in the SEC in pass efficiency defense, allowing 7.6 yards per attempt and a league-worst 15 touchdowns (tied with LSU).

That could get worse on Saturday. On Tuesday, Lea said Vandy will be without a pair of starters, safety De’Rickey Wright and cornerback BJ Anderson, and termed starting corner Martel Hight “questionable.”

The Commodores will need punter Matt Hayball (an SEC-leading 50.1 yards per punt, 11 punts inside the 20) to help with field position.

–Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) warms up before the start of a NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

Baseball background helps Georgia QB Carson Beck face pressure

Georgia football fans have plenty of reason to be happy that a former Florida baseball commit is now running the Bulldogs’ offense.

As No. 1 Georgia begins preparations to visit Vanderbilt on Saturday, coach Kirby Smart pointed to quarterback Carson Beck’s baseball background as a major reason why Beck can handle the pressures of facing a heavy blitz when leading the nation’s top-ranked team.

There’s no blitzing in baseball, of course, but Smart feels there is immense pressure in different ways.

“You know, a baseball background, I’ve learned, gives you the ability to handle pressure, because there’s no greater pressure than you have to throw a strike,” Smart said. “Nobody can help you throw that strike — no coach, no pitching coach. You gotta stand out there and throw a strike. … And (Beck) does well under pressure, and he has 10 good friends that are on the same page with him.”

Beck had a career day Saturday when Georgia crushed then-No. 20 Kentucky 51-13. He set personal highs in completions (28 on 35 attempts), yards (389) and touchdowns (four) — all while Kentucky blitzed him relentlessly. He won SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

“First and foremost, the offensive line picking up the blitz helps me. Big time,” Beck said Monday. “Not only that, but the center, Sedrick (Van Pran), and my study of film and seeing what defenses are going to try and do when they do blitz us, making the right ID as far as Mike points and changing protections and all that stuff. Having Sedrick there to help me with that and then also just studying film. Obviously, the execution of it, picking up the blitz, but that’s a huge credit to our offensive line.”

Smart cited not only Beck’s composure, but also his mental processing as keys to beat a blitz.

“You have to process information rapidly, and the more information you can handle, the more flexibility your offense has. And the flexibility of an offense is usually tied to what the quarterback can handle. And our quarterback — not only because he’s smart, because he’s also of age and been in the same system for multiple years — has been able to grow from that.”

Beck, a junior from Jacksonville, Fla., grew up a Gators fan and committed at one point to play baseball for Florida with one of his friends. Before long, football became his best sport, and his best option for college.

“Being a pitcher, playing baseball, you’re the only guy that’s really doing anything when you’re up there pitching,” Beck said. “Baseball’s a little bit more boring of a sport. When you’re sitting there pitching, you’re the guy, all the weight is on you to sit there and execute. Whether you’re throwing 80, 90, 100 pitches a game. I definitely say that can accredit to the way that I handle pressure.”

After joining Georgia, he waited patiently behind Stetson Bennett, the quarterback of Georgia’s back-to-back national title teams.

Smart was never concerned about the Bulldogs’ shift this season from Bennett and offensive coordinator Todd Monken to Beck and new OC Mike Bobo.

“I made a quick decision there because I was really confident, and we had the luxury of having a quarterback coming back that really wasn’t your typical first-time starter,” Smart said. “When you have a guy that’s been in the system as long as he has, I felt comfortable that he knew the system.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; UNLV Rebels Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Mike Scherer slaps hand with defensive back Johnathan Baldwin (3) after a fourth down stand against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

UNLV upends Vanderbilt in wild finish

Despite an early game-ending injury to starting quarterback Doug Brumfield that led to a 17-0 deficit, UNLV scored 30 straight points to beat Vanderbilt, 40-37, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday night.

Redshirt freshman Jayden Maiava stepped in and threw for 260 yards, rushing for 29 more, setting up Jose Pizano to win the game with a 36-yard field goal with five seconds left.

Maiava’s 47-yard touchdown throw to Jacob DeJesus with 2:23 left put UNLV up 37-30.

Vandy’s AJ Swann answered 1:11 later with a touchdown throw to Quincy Skinner.

Maiava then threw an interception to Vandy’s Nick Rinaldi. But Vanderbilt’s Jacob Borcila missed a chip-shot field goal.

Maiava then hit Ricky White with a 48-yard toss with nine seconds left to set up the winning field goal.

UNLV spotted Vanderbilt the first 17 points, had Brumfield knocked out on the game’s second drive, lost linebacker Jackson Woodard (ejected for targeting), and somehow managed to lead 20-17 at half.

Vandy freshman Martel Hight had a pick-6 on the first possession, racing 37 yards with the ball after teammate Jaylen Mahoney hit Brumfield.

The Commodores tacked on a 30-yard Borcila field goal and then Swann found London Humphries with a 56-yard bomb to make it 17-0.

The Rebels, though, pushed back quickly with Jai’Den Thomas’s 21-yard scoring run.

UNLV quickly added three more after a Vanderbilt punt hit an up-back, leading to a Rebel recovery at the Vandy 14 and then Pizano’s 27-yard field goal.

The Rebels then hit Swann from the backside, jarring the ball loose (and giving Swann an elbow contusion) for Jerrae Williams to scoop and scamper 41 yards to tie it.

Swann threw a pick just before half, which Johnathan Baldwin returned to the Vandy 28, setting up Pizano’s 31-yarder with three seconds left.

UNLV’s Pizano started the second half with a short field goal.

Then, after Vanderbilt backup quarterback Ken Seals fumbled away the Commodores’ first possession at the UNLV, Maiva gave the Rebels a 30-17 lead, scoring on a 24-yard option keeper to the right.

–Field Level Media