Vanderbilt vs Alabama: Head-to-Head Record, Last Game & More

Alabama beat Vanderbilt 30-14 in their last meeting on October 4, 2025 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It was sweet revenge for the Crimson Tide.

One year earlier, Vanderbilt had pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football history, beating No. 1 Alabama 40-35. This rivalry has never been more interesting. Here is everything you need to know, from the head-to-head record to the key players and the next game.

When Was the Last Vanderbilt vs Alabama Game?

The most recent meeting came on October 4, 2025, in Week 6 of the college football season. No. 10 Alabama hosted No. 16 Vanderbilt at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama won 30-14. The game was a battle for a half, then the Tide pulled away.

Ty Simpson was the star. The Alabama quarterback threw for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 23 of 30 passes. He overcame an early interception to take control of the game.

His touchdown passes went to Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams. On the ground, Jam Miller ran for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Vanderbilt struck first. Sedrick Alexander broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. But the Commodores managed nothing in the second half.

Diego Pavia threw for 183 yards and ran for 58, but two turnovers, an interception and a lost fumble, killed Vanderbilt’s chances. Alabama converted all four red zone trips into points.

The stats told the story. Alabama outgained Vanderbilt 486 to 333 and held the ball for over 37 minutes. Vanderbilt’s running game, which averaged 12.7 yards per carry in the first half, was held to just 9 rushing yards after halftime.

The Famous 2024 Upset: Vanderbilt 40, Alabama 35

To understand this rivalry right now, you have to go back to October 5, 2024. That night in Nashville, Vanderbilt beat No. 1 Alabama 40-35.

It was one of the greatest upsets college football has ever seen. Vanderbilt had not beaten Alabama in 40 years, since 1984. The Commodores had lost 23 straight games in the series.

Nashville erupted. Fans tore down the goalposts and carried them through the streets. It was the kind of night that defines a program.

That is why the 2025 rematch meant so much to Alabama. It was not just another SEC game. It was revenge, and the Tide got it.

Vanderbilt vs Alabama Head-to-Head Record

Despite the recent drama, this series has been overwhelmingly one-sided historically. Alabama leads the all-time series 61-20-4, in a rivalry dating back to 1903.

Vanderbilt’s wins are rare enough to be historic events. Before 2024, their last win over Alabama came in 1984, a 30-21 victory in Tuscaloosa. Their last win before that was in 1969.

Here is a fun fact for trivia night: Vanderbilt actually owns the most lopsided win in series history, a 78-0 thrashing way back in 1906. That was a very different era of football.

The last time Vanderbilt beat Alabama in back-to-back games was 1955 and 1956. That is nearly 70 years ago.

Why This Rivalry Suddenly Matters

For decades, Vanderbilt vs Alabama was a scheduled win for the Tide. The Commodores were the SEC’s lovable losers, a basketball school playing football.

Clark Lea changed that. The Vanderbilt head coach has built the Commodores into a genuine SEC contender. The 2025 season proved it was no fluke.

After the Alabama loss, Vanderbilt ripped off statement wins over LSU, Missouri, Auburn in overtime, Kentucky, and Tennessee. They took Texas to the wire in a 34-31 thriller and played Iowa tough in the Reliaquest Bowl.

That is why November 14, 2026, feels different from every Vanderbilt-Alabama game of the past 40 years. For the first time in living memory, both teams are good. The 2024 upset is not a punchline anymore. It is a warning.

When Do Vanderbilt and Alabama Play Next?

Circle the date: Saturday, November 14, 2026. Alabama travels to FirstBank Stadium in Nashville for a Week 11 SEC showdown.

This one has real juice. It will be Vanderbilt’s home game, in the same stadium where the 2024 upset happened. The Commodores will be hungry to prove 2024 was no fluke.

Both teams are having strong 2026 seasons. Alabama is 5-0 and ranked No. 7, rolling through opponents. Vanderbilt is 3-1, with wins over Austin Peay, Delaware, and NC State.

One big question mark: Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis missed the Georgia game with an injury, and Blaze Berlowitz filled in. His status for November 14 could shape the entire game.

Kickoff time is still to be announced, expected in the late morning Central time window.

Key Players to Watch

Ty Simpson: torched Vanderbilt for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns in the last meeting. One of the most efficient quarterbacks in the SEC.

Jam Miller: ran for 136 yards and a score against Vanderbilt last year. Alabama’s workhorse back.

Ryan Williams: caught a touchdown pass in the 2025 game. A big-play receiver who can change a game in one snap.

Germie Bernard: the other touchdown catcher from last year’s meeting. Reliable and clutch in the red zone.

Diego Pavia: Vanderbilt’s heart and soul in 2025. A dual-threat quarterback who never stops competing, even in a losing effort.

Sedrick Alexander: broke the 65-yard touchdown run that gave Vanderbilt its early lead last year. Home-run speed.

Jared Curtis: Vanderbilt’s 2026 starting quarterback. If healthy for November 14, he gives the Commodores a real shot at another upset.

Blaze Berlowitz: stepped in for the injured Curtis and threw a 60-yard touchdown against Georgia. The backup who could become the story.

Eli Stowers: Pavia’s trusted tight end target. A safety valve who moves the chains.

Martel Hight: intercepted Ty Simpson in the first quarter of the last meeting. A ball hawk in the Vanderbilt secondary.

People Also Ask

Who won the last Vanderbilt vs Alabama game?

Alabama won 30-14 on October 4, 2025, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Ty Simpson threw for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns.

What is the Vanderbilt vs Alabama head-to-head record?

Alabama leads the all-time series 61-20-4. The rivalry dates back to 1903.

When is the next Vanderbilt vs Alabama game?

November 14, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. Kickoff time is to be announced.

Did Vanderbilt really beat No. 1 Alabama?

Yes. On October 5, 2024, Vanderbilt beat No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in Nashville. It was Vanderbilt’s first win over Alabama in 40 years and one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

When was Vanderbilt’s last win over Alabama before 2024?

1984, when Vanderbilt won 30-21 in Tuscaloosa. That was also their last win at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

What was the score of the 2024 Vanderbilt Alabama upset?

Vanderbilt won 40-35 on October 5, 2024, in Nashville. Alabama was ranked No. 1 in the country at the time.

Has Vanderbilt ever beaten Alabama twice in a row?

Yes, but not in nearly 70 years. Vanderbilt last won back-to-back games against Alabama in 1955 and 1956. A win on November 14, 2026, would not quite do that, since Alabama won the last meeting, but it would even the recent series at two wins apiece.

Who are the coaches?

Kalen DeBoer coaches Alabama. Clark Lea coaches Vanderbilt and has led the Commodores’ remarkable rise.

Conclusion

Vanderbilt vs Alabama used to be the most predictable game on the SEC schedule. Not anymore. The 2024 upset changed everything, and Alabama’s 2025 revenge added another chapter.

Now all eyes turn to November 14, 2026 in Nashville. Can Vanderbilt pull off another upset on their home field, or will Alabama keep reminding everyone who owns this series? College football does not get much better than this.