NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Diego Pavia threw for 160 yards and a score and ran for 86 yards and two more touchdowns as No. 17 Vanderbilt beat 10th-ranked LSU 31-24 Saturday to improve to 6-1 for the first time in 75 years.
Vanderbilt, which matched its best start since opening 6-1 in 1950, beat LSU for the first time since 1990. It was only the fourth meeting since 1947 with both schools ranked in the AP poll. The Commodores also snapped a 10-game skid against LSU.
Better yet, Vanderbilt (2-1 Southeastern Conference) is bowl eligible in what was once this program’s primary focus.
“At the end of the day, we have a lot of season left and we’re going to celebrate this win,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “I think we’ve earned the right to celebrate. But this game won’t define our season. And this team still has a lot to accomplish.”
The Tigers (5-2, 2-2) made big plays with Garrett Nussmeier throwing for 225 yards and two touchdowns, including a 62-yarder to Zavion Thomas. Caden Durham also had a 51-yard run to the Vandy 2 before the Commodores forced LSU to settle for one of four field goal attempts.
“We had opportunities, we didn’t take advantage of them,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said.
It wasn’t enough against a Vanderbilt offense that ranked seventh in the nation averaging 43.2 points per game. The Commodores scored the most points LSU has given up this season with a defense ranked fifth in the nation allowing 11.8 points per game.
Vanderbilt only punted twice, both times in the fourth quarter.
LSU’s best chance came after Vandy’s first punt trailed 31-24 with 8:55 left. Zaylin Wood sacked Nussmeier on the first play. LSU had to turn the ball over three plays later and never threatened after that.
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Takeaways
LSU: The Tigers struggled to show up against a Vandy defense ranked 16th nationally. LSU settled for too many field goals from Damian Ramos, who made kicks of 48, 42 and 23 yards. He missed a 52-yarder.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores are not only guaranteed to extend the longest streak in program history in the AP Top 25 to a sixth straight week, but they will move up at least one spot. This is their second win over a ranked program this season.
Strike a Heisman pose
Pavie celebrated his third touchdown, a 21-yard run, by extending his left arm in Heisman pose. Lea didn’t see it, but said he considered Pavie the best player in college football.
“You can’t watch him play and not realize what a game-changer he is,” Lea said. “There are a lot of good players. For me, only a handful can win a match, and he is one of them.”
No more fun trips to Music City?
LSU had the edge with plenty of purple filling the stands for what was traditionally a fun trip to Music City. Vanderbilt just responded by turning up the loudspeaker volume, and Tigers fans began heading toward the exits in the final minutes.
After the last second ticked off, Vanderbilt began the celebration by playing “Callin’ Baton Rouge” while safely protecting both goal posts.
To be continued
LSU: Hosts No. 4 Texas A&M on Oct. 25.
Vanderbilt: Hosts No. 16 Missouri on Oct. 25.
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This story has been corrected to remove a reference to Vanderbilt that never lingers. LSU led in the first half.
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