BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia accounted for five total touchdowns to lead the Commodores to a 35-27 win in the 2024 Birmingham Bowl over Georgia Tech.
Vanderbilt’s victory in the Birmingham Bowl marks the school’s first postseason win since the BBVA Compass Bowl at the conclusion of the 2013 season. The Birmingham Bowl victory gives Vanderbilt a 7-6 record to conclude the 2024 campaign. It is the first winning season for the Commodores since 2013.
The Commodores are now 5-4-1 all-time in bowl games, as Vanderbilt played in its first postseason game since the 2018 Texas Bowl. The Dores posted their first win over Georgia Tech since Oct. 18, 1941. The victory over the Yellow Jackets also brings the Gold Cowbell back to Vanderbilt’s campus for the first time in over 83 years.
Pavia’s five scores set a school record for most touchdowns collected by a Commodore in a bowl game. The quarterback found the end zone three times through the air and twice on the ground against the Yellow Jackets. He collected 244 total yards in the win, throwing for 160 yards and rushing for 84 yards.
Vanderbilt collected 306 total yards of offense, with the Commodores gaining 146 yards on the ground. The Dores cashed in all on five of their visits to the red zone. The Vandy defense collected two turnovers, as safety CJ Taylor picked off his second pass of the season and defensive lineman Aeneas DiCosmo recovered his first fumble. Linebacker Nick Rinaldi posted a career-high 10 tackles and had two of Vanderbilt’s three sacks. In total, the Commodores tallied seven tackles for loss against the Yellow Jackets, led by Rinaldi’s 2.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
The Commodores opened the scoring late in the first quarter, as Pavia found tight end Cole Spence for a 7-yard touchdown to cap off an 8-play, 87-yard drive. Georgia Tech pulled even on the ensuing possession, as the Yellow Jackets went 75 yards downfield in 15 plays.
Vandy reclaimed a 14-7 advantage with 1:55 remaining before halftime after another extended drive that melted 8:06 off the clock. The Dores drove 81 yards in 14 plays, as Pavia hit paydirt with a 2-yard rush that put Vanderbilt up by a touchdown. Georgia Tech drilled a 43-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first half to make it a 14-10 contest going into halftime.
A 33-yard field goal by the Yellow Jackets cut the Vandy lead to 14-13 midway through the third quarter. Vanderbilt extended its lead to 21-13 in the final minute of the third after Pavia found tight end Eli Stowers in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown reception.
The Commodore defense got the ball back before the end of the third, as Taylor intercepted a pass at the Georgia Tech 33-yard line and returned it 22 yards to set the Vandy offense up 11 yards away from the end zone. It took three plays for Vanderbilt to hit paydirt after the Taylor pick, as Pavia connected with wide receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. for a 7-yard score that put the Dores up 28-13 just five seconds into the fourth quarter.
The Vandy defense collected its second-straight turnover moments later. Edge Mile Capers forced a fumble and DiCosmo recovered at the Commodore 27-yard line to give Vanderbilt the ball back with 13:40 left to play in the game. The Dores once quickly again took advantage of the turnover, scoring in six plays, as Pavia’s 6-yard rushing touchdown gave Vanderbilt a 35-13 advantage with 9:59 remaining.
Inclement weather brought the 2024 Birmingham Bowl to a halt at the 7:17 mark of the fourth quarter, as the teams had to wait out a lightning delay. Georgia Tech scored back-to-back touchdowns out of the stoppage to trim Vanderbilt’s lead to 35-27 with 1:30 left to play.
Needing an onside kick, Georgia Tech kicked the ball out of bounds to give the Commodores the ball for good. Vanderbilt kneeled out the final 90 seconds to secure its first bowl victory in nine seasons.
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt football team, follow @VandyFootball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.
