The astonishing madness of Vanderbilt’s shocking win over Alabama is as surreal as it is inexplicable
Welcome to the world of the unbelievable. It’s unpredictable, unimaginable, and simply beyond understanding.
Bigger than Buster Douglas, Broadway Joe, and even the Miracle on Ice. A feat greater than North Carolina State’s win over Phi Slamma Jamma and Villanova’s triumph—this was the most extraordinary upset in the annals of sports history.
If you’re not a believer in miracles now, how on earth do you justify Vanderbilt’s 40-35 win over No. 2 Alabama?
What other explanation is there for the SEC’s perennial underperformers—arguably the dullest FBS/Division I team in recent college football—completely overpowering the most dominant team of this era?
Just a week ago, Alabama had triumphed over its fierce rival Georgia, reinforcing its status as the pinnacle of college football under new coach Kalen DeBoer.
And then they got knocked out—not just defeated, but knocked out—by none other than Vanderbilt. Seriously, Vanderbilt?
“When I was a kid, I had a vision from God,” Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia shared with the SEC Network following this shocking upset that rivaled the tale of Lazarus. “Games like this change lives.”
How can this performance be explained?
How can one justify Vanderbilt—having lost all 60 previous encounters against Top Five teams—scoring the initial 13 points, leading by as much as 16, and never trailing once?
Never trailing.
How can you explain a team that had lost to Georgia State just a month earlier, executing the final plays with almost three minutes left while maintaining a narrow lead against Alabama, opting for bold plays to run down the clock?
When the game’s decisive moments arrived, Vanderbilt didn’t settle for a safe game plan of three runs and a punt. Instead, they seized control with ferocity and tenacity.
After four consecutive first downs, the Commodores celebrated with thousands of fans in Nashville, reveling in a victory over Alabama for the first time since 1984, with their energetic quarterback darting around the field like Jim Valvano searching for a embrace.
Five games into the season, and Pavia has yet to commit a single turnover.
“He represents everything we’re building here,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea remarked.
The same program that faced collapse at the end of the last season, finishing with a dismal 2-10 record and losing its last nine SEC matchups. In other words, it was the typical Vandy.
So Lea decided to innovate his rebuilding strategy, bringing in former New Mexico State coach Jerry Kill as the assistant head coach. Kill introduced offensive coordinator Tim Beck, and together, they persuaded Pavia—who guided NMSU to 10 wins last season, including a thumping victory against Auburn—to join their program.
And there they stood, amidst a sea of Alabama supporters who secured Vanderbilt season tickets just to witness this game, fully immersed in this once-in-a-lifetime moment. They never flinched in this affair filled with milestones.
They celebrated their first-ever win against a number one team, and tallied 40 points for the first time against a Top Five opponent. In earlier four matchups against former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Vanderbilt had managed to score only 13 points total.
On Saturday, they surpassed that within the first quarter with 13 points.
When fans stormed the field, Pavia had thrown for 252 yards and two touchdowns, alongside rushing for 56 yards on 20 challenging carries.
In attributing some divine influence to their victory, Pavia outperformed Alabama’s star quarterback Jalen Milroe—who had just a week ago taken command of the Heisman Trophy race.
But it wasn’t solely Pavia. This was a genuine team effort during a time overwhelmed by individualistic NIL narratives.
Eli Stowers, a former backup Texas A&M quarterback turned tight end at Vanderbilt, delivered an All-American performance with six catches for 113 yards.
The Vanderbilt offensive line, historically a liability in a conference that thrives on dominance at the line of scrimmage, managed to protect their quarterback without conceding a single sack.
“It required everything we had,” Lea mentioned.
Lea took the helm at his alma mater in December 2020 during a tumultuous time due to the pandemic. He boldly stated that Vanderbilt’s aim was to contend for the national title.
The national flipping title. At Vanderbilt.
This was an outrageous statement for a program that not only ranked among the worst but had not committed to investing adequately to keep pace in its conference.
But improvements were made with the establishment of new facilities, renovations to the stadium, and soon Vanderbilt found itself at a crossroads after losing its last nine conference games. Lea could have easily faced termination at season’s end.
Then the arrivals of Kill, Beck, and Pavia brought about a transformative change.
The inconceivable, unbelievable, and surreal took place.
“There’s so much more in store for us,” Lea declared. “This is just the beginning. Let’s chase more wins.”
Welcome to the world of the unbelievable, where reality seems to fade away.
