In an unexpected turn of events, Alabama lost to a Vanderbilt team that has now clinched its first win against a team ranked in the top five of the AP poll.
Here is a look at how each team matched up at each position during the game.
Quarterback
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe completed 18 of 24 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing touchdown on the ground. Milroe lost two turnovers during the game, throwing a pick-6 and losing a fumble.
Diego Pavia started the game for the Commodores, completing 16 of his 20 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns and adding 56 yards on the ground.
“[Pavia’s] a great quarterback,” defensive end Que Robinson said. “He’s got great elusiveness. And he made some good passes today too, some great reads.”
Running back
For the third week in a row, Alabama running backs Jam Miller and Justice Haynes combined for only 11 carries. Miller made the most of his five, adding 45 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Haynes never got going, as his six carries netted only 23 yards.
The Commodores were busy on the ground, having 54 rushing attempts during the game. Sedrick Alexander led the charge, rushing 21 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns, also helping burn the clock out in the fourth quarter. AJ Newberry contributed 7 carries for 34 yards.
Receivers
Alabama spread the wealth on offense, with seven different players having two or more catches. Wide receivers Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard once again led the charge for the Crimson Tide. Williams notched three catches for 82 yards and a touchdown while also adding a rushing touchdown, and Bernard snagged three catches for 70 yards.
Tight end CJ Dippre also had a good day, catching two passes for 66 yards. Josh Cuevas got in on the action, adding two catches for 22 yards.
Vanderbilt had tight end Eli Stowers lead the charge, as he caught six passes for 113 yards, including four third-down conversions.
Kamrean Johnson contributed a six-yard touchdown catch in the game. Even better, wide receiver Junior Sherrill reeled in two catches for 45 yards, including a massive 36-yard touchdown reception on a fourth-down play.
“That fourth down was a tough one,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said. “Hats off to them, they made a play.”
Offensive line
Alabama started Kadyn Proctor, Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, Jaeden Roberts and Elijah Pritchett for the third game in a row.
The group allowed two sacks, but one of them proved costly as Pritchett allowed defensive end Miles Capers to rush right past him and strip-sack Milroe for a huge, momentum-changing play.
The Commodores’ offensive line of Gunnar Hansen, Steven Hubbard, Steven Losoya, Delfin Xavier Castillo and Chase Mitchell performed impressively during the game, not allowing the Alabama defense to record a sack.
Defensive line
Robinson was a bright spot for the Crimson Tide, notching three tackles for loss. Defensive tackle Tim Keenan III added five tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, and fellow DT James Smith had one tackle for loss.
Vanderbilt didn’t see many contributions from its defensive line, with defensive end Aeneas DiCosmo being the lone bright spot and recording a tackle for loss.
Linebackers
Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson were busy for the Crimson Tide. Campbell recorded 12 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Lawson had 10 tackles.
Vanderbilt saw an influx of production from its linebackers. Capers had the strip-sack on Milroe, while Ranton Fontenette picked Milroe off in the first quarter and returned it for a touchdown.
Bryan Longwell had eight tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, while Langston Patterson notched seven tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Nick Rinaldi rounded out the production from the Vanderbilt linebackers with one sack on Milroe.
Defensive backs
Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson didn’t have as eventful of a game as last week, but he still notched eight tackles and a pass breakup. The same can be said for fellow corner Zabien Brown, who didn’t have a game-saving interception but still recorded two tackles and a pass breakup.
Starting safety and team captain Malachi Moore had a somewhat up-and-down day, recording 10 tackles and a tackle for loss but also being responsible for the 36-yard touchdown given up to Sherrill. Moore also showed frustration, recording an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty near the end of the game.
“That was unacceptable, even by him,” Robinson said. “He’s a captain. Definitely have to talk to him about his attitude and stuff on the field.”
Keon Sabb started alongside Moore, recording nine tackles.
Vanderbilt safeties CJ Taylor and De’Rickey Wright didn’t have their names called often but were productive when it mattered. The two combined for only three tackles but each recorded a pass breakup. Wright deflected one of Milroe’s passes in the air, leading to Fontenette’s pick-six.
Kicker/punter
Alabama kicker Graham Nicholson didn’t attempt a field goal but made all five extra-point attempts. James Burnip punted twice on the day, averaging 43.5 yards per punt.
Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor had a busy day, making field goals from 51 and 33 yards out while going 4 of 5 on his extra-point attempts. Punter Jesse Mirco notched 38 yards per attempt on his two punts for the day.
The Crimson Tide will hope to regroup at home versus South Carolina on Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. on ABC.
