Just a year ago, Vanderbilt University pulled off one of college football’s biggest shocks by defeating then-No. 1 ranked Alabama — a result so stunning it earned its own dedicated Wikipedia page.
Now, fast forward to October 2025, and Vanderbilt is undefeated at 5-0, ranked No. 16 nationally, preparing to face No. 10 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. But this time, the matchup is no longer viewed as a lopsided battle — it’s a meeting of equals.
“It’s about what we do,” said Commodores head coach Clark Lea earlier this week. “Our focus is on playing our game, not getting caught up in the environment. It’s a great stage for college football, and we want to keep the attention on execution, not distractions.”
From Conference Afterthought to Real Contender
For decades, Vanderbilt was widely considered the weakest team in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Among programs with 100 or more SEC games, no school has a lower winning percentage (.382) than Vanderbilt. In contrast, Alabama holds the top spot with a winning rate of .756.
The Commodores have never won a conference title and have only ended the season in the Top 25 rankings three times in their entire history. And when it comes to Alabama, the numbers have been even more one-sided: The Crimson Tide holds a 63-19-4 record over Vanderbilt and had lost to them only once between 1970 and 2023 — until that historic upset last fall.
Reflecting on last year’s loss, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer admitted his squad might have overlooked the Commodores.
“You have to manage success in this league,” DeBoer said Tuesday. “We didn’t do that last year. That’s on us.”
There’s little chance Alabama will be sleeping on Vanderbilt this time. The teams are ranked and competitive, facing off as ranked opponents for the first time since 1937, with Vanderbilt holding the better record heading into the clash.
The Diego Pavia Effect
A major reason for Vanderbilt’s turnaround is quarterback Diego Pavia, who has quickly become a pivotal figure in the program’s history.
Now 24, Pavia began his college journey at New Mexico Military Institute, before transferring to New Mexico State and eventually landing at Vanderbilt in 2024. His arrival brought immediate results. In last year’s stunning win over Alabama, he threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 56 yards.
Pavia hasn’t lost his edge this season and brings a confident mindset into Saturday’s game — even with the intimidating challenge of playing in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“I don’t worry about what they’re doing,” Pavia told On3’s Chris Low. “We’ve got to show up and play our game. If we do that, it won’t even be close.”
Alabama No Longer Untouchable
While Alabama’s recent history is full of dominance — 11 College Football Playoff or national title appearances between 2008 and 2023 — cracks have begun to show. The 2024 season saw them lose four games, their worst performance since 2007.
This year, they’ve already stumbled against Florida State, a team that’s since lost to unranked Virginia — raising questions about the Tide’s current form.
That opens the door even wider for Vanderbilt to prove that last year’s upset wasn’t just a lucky break, but the beginning of a new era.
A New Era for the Commodores?
Coach Lea is fully aware of the skepticism surrounding his team’s rise, but he welcomes it as part of the journey.
“People have doubted what we’re building here,” Lea said. “That’s fine. What matters is the confidence we’ve developed — the belief that we can dominate, not just survive. That’s a big shift.”
As Vanderbilt prepares to step onto the field against a historically dominant rival, they do so not as a longshot, but as a legitimate force in the SEC — a statement few would have believed just a year ago.
TL;DR:
- Vanderbilt (5-0, ranked 16th) is facing off against Alabama (3-1, ranked 10th).
- Once the SEC’s perennial underdog, Vanderbilt now enters the matchup as a true competitor.
- QB Diego Pavia has been instrumental in their rise.
- Saturday’s game is a chance to cement their legitimacy in the conference.