Diego Pavia's lawsuit against the NCAA takes specific issue with the limitations put on former junior college players like him. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) (Michael Chang via Getty Images)
Vanderbilt football took Virginia Tech off to never-never land on Saturday night, storming back from a double-digit deficit to claim a statement 44-20 victory inside Lane Stadium.
The Commodores (2-0) shut out the Hokies (0-2) over the final 30 minutes, flipping a 20-10 halftime hole into a dominant road win. It marked the first time since 2022 that Vanderbilt overcame a 10+ point deficit to win, and the 24-point margin was the program’s largest in such a game in more than 80 years.
Vanderbilt’s offense came alive after the break, scoring on five consecutive possessions while rolling up 490 total yards. The ground game set the tone, pounding out 262 rushing yards behind junior backs Makhilyn Young and Sedrick Alexander. Young posted a career-high 95 yards and a score on just eight carries, highlighted by a 62-yard burst. Alexander chipped in 73 yards and two touchdowns, marking the third multi-TD game of his career.
Graduate quarterback Diego Pavia did the rest, piling up 256 total yards—193 through the air and 63 on the ground. He tossed two touchdown passes, including a 54-yard strike to tight end Brycen Coleman early in the second quarter and a highlight-reel one-handed 26-yard grab by Tre Richardson late in the third to give Vandy its first lead. Backup Blaze Berlowitz added a nine-yard touchdown pass to Eli Stowers to cap the night.
Defensively, Vanderbilt stiffened after giving up 20 points in the first half. Senior linebacker Nick Rinaldi paced the unit with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and his first sack of the year. CJ Heard and Khordae Sydnor also got home for sacks, while Jaylon Stone forced a late fumble recovered by Jailen Ruth to seal the shutout second half.
For Virginia Tech, quarterback Kyron Drones accounted for 170 total yards and a rushing score, but the Hokies managed just 114 yards on the ground and were held to 248 total yards. After controlling possession for more than 12 minutes in the opening quarter, they were outgained 321-102 after halftime.
The win is Vanderbilt’s first in Blacksburg and gives the Commodores back-to-back victories over Virginia Tech for the first time since 1930 and 1965. It also marked the program’s first nonconference road win over a Power Four opponent since 2011 at Wake Forest.
Next up, the Commodores travel to Columbia for a date with No. 10/11 South Carolina on Saturday (6:45 p.m. CT, SEC Network).
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
