By Jay Berry
Vanderbilt’s achieved its first season-opening win against a Power 5 team in 19 years.
Vanderbilt’s last winning season was in 2008. Since 1959, Vanderbilt has only four winning seasons. In Clark Lea’s first three seasons, they won nine games.
Nashville had a college football moment to cheer for the first time in a long time. On Saturday, the Commodores were 13.5-point underdogs against a team in Virginia Tech that many people think is a sleeper in the ACC.
At one point on Saturday, Vanderbilt had a 17-point lead, and it all looked like it was going to fall apart as Virginia Tech took the momentum and started a double-digit comeback.
The Hokies came back, taking a 27-20 lead with close to 4 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.
After Sedrick Alexander‘s TD catch with under 2 minutes tied the game, Vandy got the ball back and had a chance to kick a walk-off, game-winning field goal. The 43-yard field goal was wide right, sending the game into overtime.
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It appeared Vanderbilt was going to have one of those not-so-fast moments.
Instead, they scored on the opening drive of overtime, and then the Commodores’ defense stopped the Hokies for a 34-27 win.
This right here 👇 pic.twitter.com/M59QF2KlhZ
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) September 1, 2024
Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia finished with 293 total yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing.
Next week, they will try to go 2-0 for the third straight year when they play Alcorn State.
Last year, they started 2-0, those were the only two games they won all season.
This year, they have another brutal schedule. In Week Three, they’re on the road for a tough non-conference game against Georgia State. Then, their SEC schedule begins in Week Four against Missouri.
