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Vanderbilt football turned out to just be the first trip up for Kalen DeBoer as the Alabama coach.
Led by a heroic performance from quarterback Diego Pavia, the Commodores upset then-No. 2 Crimson Tide 40-35 to snap a 23-game losing streak against Alabama, dating back to 1984. Alabama will be seeking revenge for last year’s loss when the No. 11 Crimson Tide (3-1, 1-0 SEC) faces off against the No. 17 Commodores (5-0, 1-0) at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Vanderbilt is seeking its first 6-0 start to a season since 1908. The Commodores reached a 5-0 start last in 2008, but a loss to Mississippi State started a four-game slide and the team finished 7-6. Vanderbilt is coming off a 55-35 win over Utah State, in which Pavia scored six touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Alabama is coming off a 24-21 win over rival Georgia in Athens, Georgia. However, the Crimson Tide were riding the same high entering last year’s game, but could not roll the momentum forward.
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USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along:
This section will be updated throughout the game.
TEAM1Q2Q3Q4QFVanderbilt77―――Alabama014―――
Alabama strikes back to tie the game on a Ty Simpson to Germie Bernard 27-yard touchdown right before the half. The scoring drive is six plays for 78 and takes just 1:11 of game time.
Simpson and the Crimson Tide score quickly despite not having a timeout.
Running back Sedrick Alexander gets his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Diego Pavia to give Vanderbilt a 14-7 lead with 1:33 left in the first half.
The scoring drive goes 10 plays for 38 yards and takes 4:23 off the clock. Alabama is out of timeouts, but will surely try to score before the end of the half.
Following the game-tying touchdown by Ryan Williams, Alabama’s defense forces the first punt of the game, making Vanderbilt go three-and-out.
The Crimson Tide start their next drive from their own 17-yard line.
Alabama’s on the scoreboard with a Ty Simpson touchdown pass to Ryan Williams from 14 yards out. The scoring drive is 12 plays for 92 yards and takes 7:24 off the clock.
The score is now 7-7 with 9:22 left in the half.
Vanderbilt holds a 7-0 lead after one quarter. However, both teams have one turnover in their opponent’s territory. The Commodores outgained Alabama 161-129 in the first quarter.
Justin Jefferson punches the ball out of Diego Pavia’s hand at the Alabama 8-yard line and Tim Keenan III recovers the fumble. The Crimson Tide get a huge turnover to stop another Commodores’ score.
Two drives into Vanderbilt territory and zero points for Alabama still. Conor Talty misses a 47-yard field goal from the Vanderbilt 47-yard line and the Crimson Tide are kept off the scoreboard.
A holding on Parker Brailsford on first down helps stall the drive for Alabama.
Vanderbilt is on the board first, following a 65-yard touchdown run by Sedrick Alexander. Alexander rushes to the right and finds an open lane for the easy first score.
The scoring drive goes six plays for 93 yards and takes 3:13 off the game clock.
Vanderbilt’s Sedrick Alexander flashing his vision and burst. Another underrated Vanderbilt player.
Alexander came into today averaging 3.5 yards per carry after contact. pic.twitter.com/fFzgdDuLuJ
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 4, 2025
Vanderbilt’s Martel Hight picks off a pass from Ty Simpson on fourth-and-1 from the Vanderbilt 29-yard line. The Commodores will start their first drive on their own 7-yard line.
Vanderbilt wins the toss and has defers to the second half. Alabama will receive and the Commodores will defend the south goal.
The Commodores knocked off the Crimson Tide 40-35 last season in Nashville. But when was the last time Vanderbilt beat Alabama in consecutive games?
Read here about the series history from USA TODAY Network writer Austin Curtright.
Here’s a look at the final Alabama-Vanderbilt injury report:
Alabama
Out: First half
Out
LB Qua RussawLB Jah-Marien LathamDL Jeremiah BeamanVanderbilt:
Out
CB Marlon JonesDL Yilanan OuattaraRB Chase GillespieSAF Brail LipfordLB Jamison Curtis
Game-time decision
Here’s who the ESPN “College GameDay” picked for the Alabama-Vanderbilt game:
Desmond Howard: AlabamaNick Saban: AlabamaPat McAfee: AlabamaTheo Von: Vanderbilt  Kirk Herbstreit: AlabamaWhat time does Alabama vs Vanderbilt start?Date: Saturday, Oct. 4Time: 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT)Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The Week 6 SEC rivalry matchup between Alabama and Vanderbilt is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, Oct. 4, from Nick Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
What TV channel is Alabama vs Vanderbilt on today?
The Crimson Tide vs. the Bulldogs will air nationally on ABC. Sean McDonough will serve as the play-by-play commentator, with Greg McElroy serving as the analyst and Molly McGrath as the sideline reporter.
Streaming options include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Alabama vs Vanderbilt predictionsEhsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports:Â Alabama 38, Vanderbilt 30
Behind a three-touchdown performance from running back Jam Miller, Alabama escapes another close contest but exacts revenge for last year’s loss.
“Especially given that both sides have multiple key defenders on the injury report, this figures to be a high-scoring game. Both teams have put up strong offensive performances this season, Vanderbilt in particular. But the Commodores’ defense has had breakdowns at times and hasn’t yet put together four good quarters against a strong opponent.”
“Alabama wants revenge. Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense have seemingly taken the next step. But with an Alabama offense that runs methodically, and with efficiency when it’s at its best, the Crimson Tide should keep the ball away from Pavia. If the Crimson Tide can contain the Vanderbilt run game, Alabama should be celebrating, and the 2024 Vanderbilt win can officially be put in the rearview mirror.”
“Alabama’s offense appears to be finding a groove, despite the fact that it continues to struggle to run the ball. If UA can protect QB Ty Simpson as effectively as it did against Georgia, expect the Crimson Tide to pile up the points against the Commodores. They’ll need all they can get if the VU running game has its way against Alabama’s defense.”
Alabama football schedule 2025
Here is the Crimson Tide’s schedule and results.
Saturday, Aug. 30: Florida State 31, No. 8 Alabama 17Saturday, Sept. 6:Â No. 20 Alabama 73, UL Monroe 0Saturday, Sept. 13:Â No. 18 Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14Saturday, Sept. 20:Â BYESaturday, Sept. 27:Â No. 16 Alabama 24, No. 3 Georgia 21Saturday, Oct. 4:Â vs No. 17 Vanderbilt* | 3:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)Saturday, Oct. 11:Â at No. 18 Missouri* | Noon | ABC (Fubo)Saturday, Oct. 18:Â vs. No. 15 Tennessee*Saturday, Oct. 25:Â at South CarolinaSaturday, Nov. 1:Â BYESaturday, Nov. 8:Â vs. No. 13 LSU*Saturday, Nov. 15:Â vs. No. 8 Oklahoma*Saturday, Nov. 22:Â vs. Eastern Illinois | 2 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 29:Â at Auburn*
*Denotes SEC game
Vanderbilt football schedule 2025
Here is the Commodore’s schedule and results.
Saturday, Aug. 30: Vanderbilt 45, Charleston Southern 3Saturday, Sept. 6:Â Vanderbilt 44, Virginia Tech 20Saturday, Sept. 13:Â Vanderbilt 31, No. 10 South Carolina 7Saturday, Sept. 20:Â No. 23 Vanderbilt 70, Georgia State 21Saturday, Sept. 27:Â No. 2 Vanderbilt 55, Utah State 35Saturday, Oct. 4:Â at No. 11 Alabama* | 3:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)Saturday, Oct. 11:Â BYESaturday, Oct. 18:Â vs. No. 13 LSU*Saturday, Oct. 25:Â vs. No. 18 Missouri*Saturday, Nov. 1:Â at No. 7 Texas*Saturday, Nov. 8:Â vs. Auburn*Saturday, Nov. 15:Â BYESaturday, Nov. 22:Â vs. Kentucky*Saturday, Nov. 29:Â at No. 15 Tennessee*
*Denotes SEC game