Vanderbilt Football Stuns SEC Rivals: Inside the Game-Changing Win That Has Fans Buzzing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt Commodores kept their surprise College Football Playoff push alive with a dramatic 45-38 overtime victory against Auburn Saturday evening at FirstBank Stadium, improving to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in SEC play. Quarterback Diego Pavia delivered another Heisman-worthy showcase, throwing for 319 yards, rushing for 92 and accounting for four total touchdowns, including the game-winning 3-yard keeper on the Commodores’ first OT possession. Auburn’s response fizzled when cornerback C.J. Taylor broke up an end-zone fade on fourth down, igniting a black-and-gold celebration that echoed down West End. Key moments • Pavia’s 57-yard strike to Tre Richardson midway through the third quarter gave Vanderbilt its first lead at 24-23 and pushed the junior over 3,000 total yards on the season. • After Auburn tied the game 38-38 on Cam Coleman’s acrobatic one-handed grab and two-point conversion with 5:27 left, Vanderbilt’s defense produced a crucial fourth-and-1 stop of Ashton Daniels to preserve overtime. • Junior Sherrill continued his breakout year with six catches for 104 yards and two scores, while true freshman Brock Taylor remained perfect on field goals (2-for-2), including a 47-yarder into a brisk north wind. Why it matters The victory cements Vanderbilt’s best SEC record since 1923 and keeps Clark Lea’s squad firmly in the CFP Committee’s top-12 conversation ahead of next week’s update. With Georgia’s upset loss to Kentucky earlier in the day, the Commodores now control their path to the SEC Championship Game for the first time in program history. Player of the game Pavia’s dual-threat mastery forced Auburn to abandon its normally stout run defense; the Tigers surrendered 510 total yards, their most since 2022. The New Mexico State transfer has accounted for 34 touchdowns against just six turnovers, vaulting him into legitimate Heisman discussion alongside Ohio State’s Kalen Daye and Washington’s J.J. Stillwell. What they said “We told the country back in August our ceiling was higher than anybody believed,” Lea said. “Tonight proves we belong in every playoff conversation.” Pavia added, “We’re not chasing history; we’re writing it.” Injury update Starting tailback Chase Gillespie (ankle) missed a second straight game. Red-shirt sophomore Makhilyn Young filled in with 88 scrimmage yards but exited late with cramps; he’s expected back for Mercer. Up next Vanderbilt closes the non-conference slate hosting Mercer on Nov. 22 before the season-defining visit from No. 4 Alabama in the annual Iron Skillet rivalry finale Nov. 29. Two wins would all but guarantee the Commodores their first CFP berth and a likely New Orleans semifinal. SEO keywords: Vanderbilt football, Vanderbilt Commodores, Vanderbilt vs Auburn score, Diego Pavia highlights, Clark Lea, SEC football standings, College Football Playoff rankings, Vanderbilt schedule, Vanderbilt Auburn overtime, Nashville college football.