Game 9: RV/RV Vanderbilt (5-3, 2-2 SEC) vs. Auburn (3-5, 1-4 SEC)
When: Saturday, Nov. 2 • 11:45 a.m. CT
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Ala.
Watch: SEC Network (Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Ashley Stroehlein)
Listen: 94.9 The Fan (Andrew Allegretta, Norman Jordan and Kevin Ingram)
NEXT UP
• Vanderbilt heads to The Plains to face Auburn in what will be the 45th meeting all-time between the two schools since 1893.
• The Commodores have won three of their last four games after coming up short in a comeback attempt against No. 5/6 Texas on Saturday. Vanderbilt lost by a field goal to the Longhorns after rattling off wins over top-ranked Alabama, Kentucky and Ball State.
• Vandy and Auburn split the previous four meetings. The Commodores beat the Tigers in 2008 and 2012 and Auburn won the 2016 and 2023 contests.
• Nine current Commodore players and coaches were part of the New Mexico State program that upset Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium last season (Diego Pavia, Eli Stowers, Blaze Berlowitz, Moni Jones, Jerry Kill, Tim Beck, Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford, Melvin Rice, Garrett Altman).
• A win for Vanderbilt would make the Dores bowl eligible for the first time since 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
• Vanderbilt pushed No. 5/6 Texas to the final seconds on Saturday, ultimately falling 27-24 at FirstBank Stadium.
• Vandy’s three losses this season have come by a combined 10 points.
• Vanderbilt scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the fourth straight game, with three of those scores resulting in seven points.
• The Commodore defense has picked off three opponent’s opening drives this season (Virginia Tech, Alabama, Texas). Vandy has picked off its opponent in every game this year but two.
• The defensive unit tallied a season-high nine tackles for loss for a season-best 41 yards. The defense also posted a season-high six pass breakups.
• Junior Sherrill had a personal-best five catches for 62 yards and a receiving touchdown.
• Brock Taylor became the first Commodore to make five field goals of 50-plus yards in a career. All five makes have come this season.
• Linebacker Nick Rinaldi posted his fourth straight game with a sack. Bryan Longwell led the defense for the third time this season after totaling 11 tackles, his second contest this fall with 10-plus takedowns. That total included a tackle for loss, giving him at least one in every game this year but one.
DOMINANT DIEGO
• Diego Pavia has been one of the most electric signal callers in college football this season. He ranks 23rd among FBS quarterbacks in passing efficiency (155.1), third-best in the SEC.
• Pavia ranks sixth in the SEC with 537 rushing yards, most among quarterbacks.
• His performance in the win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5 landed him SEC Offensive Player of the Week. He was also named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and the Maxwell Award Player of the Week.
• In the opening win vs. Virginia Tech, Pavia completed 75 percent of his passes with a passing efficiency of 216.0.
• He was credited with eight missed tackles forced by PFF in Week 1, tied for the lead in FBS among non-running backs with Taylen Green (Arkansas) and Matthew Sluka (UNLV).
• Pavia’s 104 net rushing yards against the Hokies were the second most among non-running backs during Week 1, trailing only new New Mexico’s Devon Dampier who ran for 130 yards at Arizona.
• Diego Pavia piloted a deadly efficient offense in 2023 while leading New Mexico State to 10 wins. Pavia ranked among the top-35 in FBS in passing touchdowns, points, passing yards per attempt and passing efficiency last season. In addition, Pavia ranked fifth among FBS quarterbacks in Pro Football Focus’ Elusive Rating.
WHERE THE DORES RANK
• Vandy ranks ninth in FBS and leads the SEC in third down conversion percentage (49.1).
• The Dores are tied for first among Power 4 programs with three interceptions thrown this season. Vandy leads the SEC in turnovers lost (5) and ranks third in turnover margin (0.63).
• Vanderbilt boasts the SEC’s second-best red zone offense (96.9), fifth-best in FBS.
• With an average time of possession of 32:29, the Dores lead the SEC and are 12th in FBS.
