October 5, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) through the first half in opposition to the Alabama Crimson Tide at First Financial institution Stadium Move the ball through the recreation. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photos The 2 groups with enormous wins will meet Saturday night time in Lexington, Ky., when Kentucky takes on Vanderbilt within the Southeastern Convention.
Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1) notched its largest win in program historical past on Saturday, stunning then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35.
Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia accomplished 16 of 20 passes for 252 yards and rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Vanderbilt made no errors and had the ball for simply over 42 minutes.
Kentucky (3-2, 1-2) defeated then-No. 6 Mississippi State 20-17 in its most up-to-date recreation on Sept. 28 in Oxford, Mississippi.
Quarterback Brock Vandagriff (243 yards, one landing) had his finest recreation in his first season with the Wildcats, because the protection held the Rebels to 353 yards.
Each groups additionally felt the sting of disappointment.
On September 14, Vanderbilt misplaced to Georgia State 36-32.
“We have got to double down on our abilities, double down on what we do, irrespective of who we’re enjoying in opposition to, as a result of all people’s going to play exhausting irrespective of the kind of recreation,” Commodores working again Cedric Alexander mentioned.
Kentucky has come a great distance since dropping 31-6 to South Carolina within the convention opener on Sept. 7, Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops acknowledged to reporters this week. So does the crew. The Commodores have not posted a win since 2013.
“Coming into this press convention, I haven’t got to promote Vanderbilt anymore and inform you how good they’re and the way good (coach) Clark Lee is doing,” Stoops mentioned. mentioned of the Commodores’ large win.
Vanderbilt’s offense versus the Wildcats’ protection can be an influence showdown that everybody needs to see.
Kentucky is permitting simply 13.4 factors per recreation, rating eleventh within the nation.
The Wildcats have high quality gamers on the sphere, together with 6-foot-6, 345-pound defensive sort out Deone Walker, veteran edge gamers D’Eryk Jackson (team-leading 26 tackles) and JJ Weaver ( 3 sacks), and cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who had two pick-6s in opposition to the Commodores final season.
Alabama by no means solved Vanderbilt’s option-based recreation final week and likewise had bother throwing tackles to tight finish Eli Stowers (25 catches, 333 yards), who additionally threw for a landing this season.
Kentucky’s vast receivers Dane Key, Barion Brown and Ja’Mori Maclin might trigger issues for much less athletic receivers.
Nonetheless, the Wildcats have allowed 15 sacks and 4 interceptions, which might be an issue for a protection that pressured two Alabama turnovers (considered one of which was a reception for six by Landon Fontenette).
–Scene-level media
