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Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt defeat Tennessee to clinch 10-win season

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz2 hours agoNickSchultz_7

As Rivalry Week continues, a major SEC matchup highlights the late-afternoon window on Rocky Top. Vanderbilt, fighting to stay in the College Football Playoff picture, will take on Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

The Commodores ranked No. 14 in the latest CFP Top 25, just outside the projected 12-team bracket. Diego Pavia is also looking to keep making his case for the Heisman Trophy while Joey Aguilar and the Volunteers will try to play spoiler against their in-state rival.

On3 is tracking the matchup between Vanderbilt and Tennessee with live updates, analysis and instant reaction. Follow along throughout the Week 14 matchup.

By:Nick Schultz

Final: Vanderbilt 45, Tennessee 24

11/29/2025 06:09:43 PM

For the first time in Vanderbilt history, the Commodores have won 10 games. Diego Pavia led the charge in Saturday’s victory over Tennessee, which improved the Commodores to 10-2 for the first time.

By:Nick Schultz

Tennessee comes up empty again

11/29/2025 06:07:11 PM

Out of the two-minute timeout, Tennessee once again couldn’t get into the end zone and turned it over on downs. That gave Vanderbilt the ball back with a chance to run out the clock.

By:Nick Schultz

Sedrick Alexander scores 3rd TD of the night

11/29/2025 05:53:38 PM

For the third time in Saturday’s game, Sedrick Alexander found pay dirt. He ran in a 39-yard touchdown to make it a 45-24 Vanderbilt lead with 5:10 to play. It also put Vanderbilt over 300 rushing yards as a team.

By:Nick Schultz

Tennessee turns it over on downs

11/29/2025 05:48:23 PM

Needing two touchdowns to tie things up, Tennessee was forced to go for a 4th and 14 in the fourth quarter. Joey Aguilar’s pass to Chris Brazzell was complete, but short of the sticks, meaning Vanderbilt got a turnover on downs.

By:Nick Schultz

Diego Pavia does hit himself, adds to Vanderbilt lead

11/29/2025 05:37:56 PM

With a seven-point lead, Diego Pavia took matters into his own hands. He ran in a 24-yard touchdown extend Vanderbilt’s lead to 38-24 – and he struck a Heisman Trophy pose afterward.

By:Nick Schultz

Tennessee settles for field goal

11/29/2025 05:23:53 PM

After a dropped pass in the end zone, Tennessee chose to settle for a field goal and make it a one-score game. Max Gilbert was true from 25 yards as the Vols cut the Vanderbilt lead to 31-24.

By:Nick Schultz

End 3Q: Vanderbilt 31, Tennessee 21

11/29/2025 05:16:27 PM

Through three quarters, Vanderbilt used a high-powered offensive attack to take a 31-21 lead on Tennessee. The Commodores had 436 total yards through three quarters – fueled by 207 passing and 124 rushing from Diego Pavia.

By:Nick Schultz

3Q: Vanderbilt 31, Tennessee 21

11/29/2025 05:10:31 PM

Diego Pavia led Vanderbilt deep into Tennessee territory, but the Vols defense held strong and forced a field goal. Brock Taylor was good from 35 yards out, extending the Commodores’ lead to 31-21 with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter.

By:Nick Schultz

Vanderbilt drives down field, takes lead again

11/29/2025 04:52:25 PM

An 11-play, 75-yard drive helped Vanderbilt take the lead back once more. Sedrick Alexander went five yards for his second rushing touchdown of the day to make it a 28-21 Commodores lead with 8:25 left in the third quarter.

By:Nick Schultz

Second half underway

11/29/2025 04:43:07 PM

Vanderbilt received the kickoff to start the third quarter. The second half is officially underway at Neyland Stadium.

By:Nick Schultz

Halftime: Vanderbilt 21, Tennessee 21

11/29/2025 04:20:47 PM

Both the Tennessee and Vanderbilt offenses were on full display through the first quarter as the two teams sat tied 21-21. The Commodores had 298 yards in the first half while the Vols had 245.

By:Nick Schultz

Vanderbilt ties it up before half

11/29/2025 04:18:21 PM

After a roughing the passer penalty extended the drive, Vanderbilt capitalized. Diego Pavia hit Tre Richardson for a 6-yard touchdown to tie things up at 21-21 with 12 seconds left before halftime.

By:Nick Schultz

DeSean Bishop does it again, Tennessee leads

11/29/2025 03:45:28 PM

Once again, Tennessee got a big play for a touchdown. DeSean Bishop’s second score of the game put the Vols back out in front, 21-14, over Vanderbilt with 7:51 to play in the first half.

By:Nick Schultz

Diego Pavia picked off again

11/29/2025 03:41:43 PM

For the second time in Saturday’s game, Diego Pavia was picked off. Ty Redmond intercepted him on a deep pass, giving Tennessee the ball at its own 37-yard line.

By:Nick Schultz

Joey Aguilar finds Chris Brazzell, back-and-forth continues

11/29/2025 03:36:00 PM

It didn’t take long for Tennessee to answer once again. Joey Aguilar hit a wide open Chris Brazzell for a 52-yard touchdown, meaning the game was tied once again at 14-14.

By:Nick Schultz

Vanderbilt takes the lead

11/29/2025 03:29:37 PM

Following a Tennessee punt, Vanderbilt took its first lead of the game on a Makhilyn Young rushing touchdown. That put the Commodores ahead 14-7 after going 78 yards in just over two minutes.

By:Nick Schultz

End 1Q: Vanderbilt 7, Tennessee 7

11/29/2025 03:20:11 PM

After one quarter, Tennessee and Vanderbilt sat tied at 7-7. The Commodores totaled 126 yards of offense while the Volunteers had 11 total yards through a back-and-forth first 15 minutes.

By:Nick Schultz

Vanderbilt responds with Sedrick Alexander TD

11/29/2025 03:15:48 PM

Less than three minutes after Tennessee’s touchdown, Vanderbilt responded. Sedrick Alexander took the handoff 28 yard for a score, bringing it to a 7-7 tie with less than a minute to go in the first quarter.

By:Nick Schultz

DeSean Bishop scores, Tennessee strikes first

11/29/2025 03:02:30 PM

DeSean Bishop capped off a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown as Tennessee struck first. That made it a 7-0 Vols lead after the turnover.

By:Nick Schultz

Diego Pavia intercepted at the goal line

11/29/2025 02:50:09 PM

After a surgical 10-play, 51-yard drive, Diego Pavia threw an interception at the goal line. Edrees Farooq was there to pick it off, and Tennessee took over at the 20-yard line after a forward fumble, following replay review.

By:Nick Schultz

Coin toss

11/29/2025 02:36:03 PM

Vanderbilt won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Tennessee will receive the opening kickoff to start Saturday’s game.

By:Nick Schultz

Injury updates

11/29/2025 02:23:10 PM

Jordan Ross is likely to be a game-time decision for Tennessee against Vanderbilt, according to On3’s team of insiders. He and Peyton Lewis were both listed as questionable on the SEC availability report.

More injury updates from On3 insiders

By:Nick Schultz

Pregame: Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee

11/29/2025 02:11:00 PM

head of kickoff, Tennessee is a 2.5-point favorite against Vanderbilt, according to BetMGM. The over-under is also at 66.5.

Kickoff Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Announcers: Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic

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