October 5, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) passes the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Two teams coming off impressive wins will meet Saturday night in Lexington, Ky., when Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference opener.
Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1) recorded the biggest win in program history last Saturday, shocking then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35.
Commodore quarterback Diego Pavia was 16 of 20 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 56 yards. Vanderbilt did not turn the ball over and held it for more than 42 minutes.
Kentucky (3-2, 1-2) defeated sixth-ranked Ole Miss 20-17 in its most recent game on Sept. 28 in Oxford, Miss.
Quarterback Brock Vandagriff (243 yards, one touchdown) had his best game in his first season with the Wildcats and the defense held the Rebels to 353 yards.
Both the teams have also had to face the sting of disappointment.
For Vanderbilt, there was a 36–32 loss at Georgia State on September 14.
“We have to pay double the attention to our technique, double the attention to everything we do no matter who we play because everyone is going to work hard no matter what type of game,” Commodores running back Cedric Alexander said. .
Kentucky has come a long way since losing 31-6 to South Carolina in its conference opener on Sept. 7, and Wildcats coach Mark Stoops admitted to reporters this week that Vanderbilt has lost, too. The Commodores have not had a winning season since 2013.
“Coming into this press conference, I don’t have to do this job of selling Vanderbilt and telling you how good they are, how good (coach) Clark Lee is,” Stoops said, referencing the Commodores’ big win. Has worked.”
Vanderbilt’s offense versus the Wildcats’ defense will be a strength-on-strength matchup that everyone wants to see.
Kentucky has allowed an average of just 13.4 points per contest, which ranks 11th nationally.
The Wildcats feature standouts all over the field, including 6-foot-6, 345-pound defensive tackle Deon Walker, veteran edge players like D’Eriq Jackson (team-leading 26 tackles) and JJ Weaver (three sacks), along with cornerbacks Are included with. Maxwell Hairston, who had a pair of pick-6s against the Commodores last season.
Alabama never solved Vanderbilt’s option-based plays last week and also had trouble shoveling passes to Eli Stowers (25 catches, 333 yards), who has also thrown one touchdown this season.
Kentucky receivers Dan Key, Berrian Brown and Ja’Morrie Maclin could cause problems against a defense that has trouble with athletic wideouts.
However, the Wildcats have allowed 15 sacks and thrown four interceptions, which could be an issue against a defense that forced two turnovers (one, a Randon Fontenet pick-6) vs. Alabama.
–Field Level Media