Vanderbilt outlasts Mississippi State comeback bid to earn first SEC win
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The Vanderbilt Commodores have earned their first conference win, becoming the final SEC team to secure a league win this season. For the first time since 2022, every team in the SEC will finish the season with at least one conference win.
I lead with that stat because, to be honest, that’s the most interesting piece of information to take from Vanderbilt’s win over the Bulldogs in Week 10. And having seen how the Commodores finished Saturday’s game, I’d wager it’s the only stat head coach Clark Lea cares about.
Mississippi State, thanks to a strong effort from former Commodore AJ Swann, just about snuck up on Vanderbilt to steal the win in the final seconds. Trailing 16-0 in the 3rd quarter, Mississippi State finished the game on a 23-9 run and was a failed 2-point conversion away from spoiling Vanderbilt’s party.
Brock Taylor was the Player of the Game for Vanderbilt. The Tennessee native hit all 6 of his field goal attempts on the afternoon, including a 59-yarder. Combined with an extra point, the Vanderbilt kicker accounted for 19 of Vanderbilt’s 25 points on the evening.
Makhilyn Young and Sedrick Alexander had good outings as well. The Vanderbilt running back duo combined for 122 yards and a touchdown across 36 carries. Alexander added 3 receptions for 30 yards for good measure.
Next up, Vanderbilt is set to face off against Alabama seeking 2 wins to clinch a bowl bid.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
