No. 1/2 Alabama Football falls 40-35 to Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. Alabama 1/2 football fell to Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 SEC) on Saturday, as the Crimson Tide (4-1, 1-1) was defeated 40-34 by the Commodores.

Jalen Milroe good for 312 yards through the air on 19 of 25 passing with one touchdown. The Crimson Tide quarterback added 10 rushing yards on seven carries with a rushing score.

Run back Jam Molenaar found the end zone twice and recorded 45 yards on five carries. Ryan Williams led the Tide receiving corps with 82 yards on three catches, including a 58-yard touchdown. The freshman also scored a two-yard touchdown on his only carry. Germie Bernard managed a team-high four catches, resulting in 72 yards while CJ Dipper produced 66 yards with his two receptions.

Jihad Campbell contributed 12 total tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Deontae Lawson And Malachi Moore each also finished the night with 10 tackles, with What Robinson led all players with three tackles for loss.

Comments

• The loss is the Crimson Tide's first against an unranked team since Oct. 9, 2021 at Texas A&M, a streak of 23 straight wins.
• The loss also snaps the Commodores' 23-game winning streak, a streak that started in 1984.
• Jalen Milroes 58-yard toss to Ryan Williams in the third quarter marks his fourth touchdown pass of more than 55 yards this season.
• Williams' 58-yard touchdown reception was his seventh catch of more than 43 yards in five games.
• Williams' 2-yard rushing touchdown was the first rushing touchdown of his collegiate career.
• CJ Dippre's The 46 yards receiving in the first quarter surpasses his previous career-high of 45 yards on Sept. 17, 2023 at USF.
• Saturday marks the second time in his career Jam Molenaar has produced multiple rushing touchdowns for the first time since September 24, 2022, also against Vanderbilt.
• Miller's 32-yard run in the second quarter was his fifth carry of more than 25 yards this season.
• What from Robinson three tackles for loss ranks as a new career best and eclipses his previous single TFL best by several times.

How it happened

First quarter

• 8:46 – VU | The Commodores opened the ball game with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive, finding the end zone on a seven-yard rushing touchdown (7-0, Vanderbilt).
• 8:03 – VU | The Tide's opening possession was abandoned after a deflected pass resulted in an interception return for a touchdown. The Commodores' extra point attempt was unsuccessful (13-0, Vanderbilt).
• 4:22 – UA | Jam Molenaar capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing score. The touchdown drive was enhanced by CJ Dippre's 46-yard catch-and-run (13-7, Vanderbilt).

Second quarter

• 9:32 – VU | An extended 17-play, 75-yard drive resulted in Vanderbilt's second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, a one-yard score (20-7, Vanderbilt).
• 4:10 – VU | The Commodores extended their lead, producing a 51-yard field goal (23-7, Vanderbilt).
• 1:25 – UA | Jam Molenaar found the end zone for the second time and took the read option wide right for a three-yard touchdown. Miller also managed a 32-yard carry in the nine-play, 83-yard drive (23-14, Vanderbilt).

Third quarter

• 12:01 – UA | Jalen Milroe managed his first touchdown of the day, when the quarterback took the planned run to the left and crossed the goal line for a 14-yard rushing score. The quick drive of five plays and 53 yards was set up by Emmanuel Henderson Jr 46-yard kickoff return (23-21, Vanderbilt).
• 2:53 – VU | Taking advantage of a short field, the Commodores connected on a 36-yard touchdown pass to cap a four-play, 45-yard drive (30-21, Vanderbilt).
• 1:01 – UA | On third and long, Jalen Milroe found Ryan Williams down the left sideline as the freshman broke free from two defenders for the 58-yard touchdown. The drive needed just four plays to cover 75 yards (30-28, Vanderbilt).

Fourth quarter

• 10:35 – VU | The Commodores' second field goal of the night was good from 33 yards, ending a nine-play, 60-yard drive (33-28, Vanderbilt).
• 5:07 – VU | After an Alabama fumble, the Commodores capitalized on the turnover score on a 6-yard touchdown pass (40-28, Vanderbilt).
• 2:46 – UA | Ryan Williams crossed the goal line for the second time that night and found paydirt with a 2-yard rushing touchdown (40-35, Vanderbilt).

Next

• Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa, while the Tide will host South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 12.
• The Crimson Tide and Gamecocks are scheduled for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on ABC.