STARKVILLE, Miss. – Vanderbilt football picked up its first SEC victory of the season with a 25-23 win at Mississippi State on Saturday.
The Commodores (4-5, 1-5 SEC) rode the leg of Brock Taylor who hit a school record six field goals in the win. Taylor’s big day included a pair of field goals from beyond 50 yards. Vandy rushed for 160 yards as a team, led by 63 from Makhilyn Young and 59 from Sedrick Alexander. Jared Curtis finished 17-of-27 for 168 yards while adding 22 yards on the ground.
Mississippi State (4-5, 2-5 SEC) was led by AJ Swann who finished 23-of-36 for 254 yards and two touchdowns while throwing one interception.
Vanderbilt dominated the opening 30 minutes, building a 16-0 halftime advantage. Taylor opened the scoring with a 38-yard field goal late in the first quarter. The Commodores marched 87 yards on the ensuing drive across 18 plays as Alexander capped the longest drive of the season with a 2-yard touchdown carry. The score moved Alexander into sole possession of eighth on Vandy’s all-time scoring list.
Taylor tacked on field goals from 36 and 22 yards out to account for the rest of Vandy’s points in the first half.
The Commodore defense stifled the Bulldogs in the opening half, surrendering just 71 yards to hold Mississippi State scoreless. Jordan Matthews snagged his first career interception as part of the first half onslaught. It was the first time holding an opponent scoreless in the first half since the 2025 season opener against Charleston Southern.
Mississippi State broke through on its first drive of the second half as Swann found Sanfrisco Magee for a 65-yard touchdown toss, cutting Vandy’s lead to 16-7 with 11:20 to play in the third quarter. Moments later, the Bulldogs struck again with a defensive score to cut the deficit to 16-14. Tyshun Willis sacked Curtis and knocked the ball free before Will Whitson scooped up the fumble and returned it 14 yards for the touchdown.
Taylor provided all the scoring for the Dores in the second half, connecting on another three field goals. He hit from 54 and 34 yards to help Vanderbilt to a 22-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. After the Bulldogs hit a field goal of their own to make it a 5-point game, Taylor drilled a 55-yarder with 1:46 to play to make it 25-17.
Swann and Magee connected for their second touchdown of the game with a 30-yard strike with 32 seconds to play. The Commodore defense rebuffed the two-point conversion attempt as Swann’s pass sailed out the back of the end zone. Cole Spence smothered the onside kick attempt to preserve Vandy’s 25-23 victory.
Vanderbilt returns home Saturday to face No. 5 Alabama in an 11:45 a.m. kickoff at FirstBank Stadium.