Vanderbilt Dominates Tennessee in Convincing Victory: Vanderbilt 45, Tennessee 24
Recap of Vanderbilt vs Tennessee (45-24). Game highlights, key performances, and analysis.
Vanderbilt Dominates Tennessee in Convincing Victory: Vanderbilt 45, Tennessee 24
**Game Result Overview**
The Vanderbilt Commodores secured a resounding victory over the Tennessee Volunteers with a final score of 45-24. Vanderbilt showcased a balanced offensive attack and a defense that made key plays, ultimately overpowering their in-state rival. The game, played on November 29th, 2025, saw Vanderbilt control much of the action, capitalizing on crucial opportunities to pull away from Tennessee.
**Key Individual Performances**
Vanderbilt's offense was spearheaded by quarterback Diego Pavia, who threw for 268 yards and a touchdown. His counterpart, Joey Aguilar of Tennessee, also had a strong passing performance, accumulating 299 passing yards and a touchdown for the Volunteers.
On the ground, Sedrick Alexander of Vanderbilt was a force, rushing for 115 yards and an impressive three touchdowns. Makhilyn Young added a touchdown of his own for the Commodores, further solidifying their rushing dominance. Tennessee's rushing attack was led by DeSean Bishop, who ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
In the receiving game, Chris Brazzell II was a standout for Tennessee, hauling in 91 receiving yards and a touchdown. Ethan Davis contributed 85 receiving yards for the Volunteers. For Vanderbilt, Junior Sherrill led the team with 76 receiving yards, while Tre Richardson added 75 receiving yards and a touchdown. Eli Stowers contributed 64 receiving yards for the Commodores.
Defensively, Andre Turrentine led Tennessee with 10 tackles. Edrees Farooq and Arion Carter contributed with 9 and 7 tackles respectively for the Volunteers. Randon Fontenette, Kolbey Taylor, and C.J. Heard each recorded 7 tackles for Vanderbilt.
**Turning Points**
The game's momentum shifted significantly in the second quarter. Tennessee's Joey Aguilar connected with Chris Brazzell II on a 52-yard touchdown pass, giving the Volunteers an early boost. However, Vanderbilt responded in the same quarter with Diego Pavia's 37-yard pass to Eli Stowers, setting up a scoring opportunity. A 35-yard touchdown run by DeSean Bishop for Tennessee kept the game competitive in the second quarter.
The third quarter saw Vanderbilt take control. Diego Pavia's 41-yard run put the Commodores in great field position. The fourth quarter was pivotal for Vanderbilt. Sedrick Alexander's 39-yard touchdown run put the game out of reach for Tennessee. Tennessee's attempts to mount a comeback were hampered by sacks on Joey Aguilar, with Z. Wood, L. Zunk, and B. Longwell each contributing with sacks.
**Looking Ahead**
Vanderbilt's decisive win over Tennessee will undoubtedly give them significant momentum heading into the rest of the season. Their ability to run the ball effectively and make key plays in all three phases of the game proved to be the difference. Tennessee will need to regroup and address some of the defensive issues that plagued them. Both teams will look to build on their performances and make adjustments as they move forward in their respective seasons.