Live Updates: No. 1 Alabama Football at Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–– Alabama was adamant it wasn’t going to fall into any sort of trap with Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt, but the Crimson Tide never led.

The Commodores upset No. 1 Alabama 40-35 for their first victory over the Crimson Tide in 40 years.

“We weren’t at our best today,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said after the game. “We’re gonna find out how much we care about each other, and what it looks like moving forward. We’ve been tested in different ways, really, a lot of the games here this season, and this is a different type of test for us now in our response.”

Ryan Williams’ second touchdown of the game, cut the deficit to five points with a little over two minutes to go. However, when it absolutely had to have one, the Alabama defense couldn’t get a stop, and Vanderbilt was able to run the clock out for the victory.

Vanderbilt imposed its will on the opening possession of the game, driving all the way down the field to grab the early lead. Randon Fontenette intercepted Jalen Milroe on Alabama’s first possession and returned it 29 yards for a pick-six to give the Commodores the 13-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game.

Alabama struggled to stop Vanderbilt in the first half, and a costly penalty on special teams extended a Commodore drive after the Crimson Tide had gotten a stop at the end of the first quarter. Instead, the drive continued into the second quarter, where Vanderbilt pushed the lead to 20-7.

After Vanderbilt’s only punt of the second half, the Alabama offense went three-and-out and gave Vanderbilt good field position. A second-half sack fumble was also costly for the Crimson Tide.

Jam Miller helped keep the offense afloat with two first-half touchdowns. But in the end, it came down to the defense’s inability to get a stop.

Alabama falls to 4-1 (1-1 SEC) and Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 SEC) picks up its first SEC win since 2022.

(most recent updates at the top)

Score: Vanderbilt 40, Alabama 35

END 3: Vanderbilt 30, Alabama 28

Alabama at Vanderbilt halftime stats /

END 2Q: Vanderbilt 23, Alabama 14

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 5, 2024END 1Q: Vanderbilt 13, Alabama 7

As always, Alabama is wearing the white uniforms with crimson helmets for the road matchup. Vanderbilt is wearing all black from head to toe.Jefferson is in uniform and participating in pregame warmups. Alabama’s specialists have taken the field for pregame warmups about an hour before kickoff time. In the official availability report, Alabama wide receiver Kendrick Law is ruled OUT. Linebacker Justin Jefferson is a game-time decision. Walking around outside the stadium before the game, I probably saw 10 Alabama fans for every one Vanderbilt fan. Who: Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC) at Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1 SEC)

When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 3:15 p.m. CT

Where: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

TV: SEC Network

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to kickoff.

SiriusXM: 192

Series: Alabama leads 63-18-4

Last meeting: Bryce Young threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns as the Crimson Tide rolled over the Commodores, 55-3, on Sept. 24, 2022.

Last time out, Alabama: Jalen Milroe connected with Ryan Williams for the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes to put the Crimson Tide ahead of Georgia 41-34 to pick up Kalen DeBoer’s first SEC win. Alabama jumped out to a 28-0 lead on the Bulldogs in the first half, but Georgia fought back to take the lead with 2:31 to go. Willams’ touchdown put Alabama ahead, and fellow freshman Zabien Brown had the game-sealing interception.

Last time out, Vanderbilt: The Commodores lost a heartbreaker to Missouri on the road in overtime. Vanderbilt missed a potential game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime. After Missouri scored a field goal on its opening possession to go up, 30-27, and the Commodores missed their attempt on the next possession to drop their SEC opener.