Diego Pavia threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a 4-yarder to Eli Stowers with 4:18 left, and Vanderbilt became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2018 with a 17-7 win over Auburn on Saturday.
The Commodores (6-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) locked up another win in their surprising season with a 14-play, 78-yard drive that consumed 8 minutes, 53 seconds. It was kept alive when Keldric Faulk was penalized for leverage while trying to block a field goal by Brock Taylor, setting up first down at the 4.
The Tigers (3-6, 1-5) fell one loss away from their fourth straight losing season.
Pavia was contained much of the way but still delivered a second straight win over Auburn. He completed 9 of 22 passes for 143 yards with a 28-yard touchdown to AJ Newberry. Pavia led New Mexico State to a huge upset of the Tigers last season before transferring to the SEC and helping produce a much less surprising victory.
Auburn’s last effort to stay in the game ended when Towns McGough’s 52-yard field goal attempt fell short for his second miss. By the time the Tigers fumbled away their last possession in the final two minutes, most of the fans had already hit the exits.
The Tigers managed to tie it at 7-all going into halftime. They converted two fourth-down plays in their own territory before Thorne’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Rivaldo Fairweather.
The Commodores retook the lead on Taylor’s 31-yard field goal late in the third quarter. They got the chance after replay officials overturned a called fumble by Moni Jones, and it was set up by Martel Hight’s 39-yard punt return to the 21.
Vandy held Jarquez Hunter to 50 yards on 12 carries a week after he ran for 278 in a win over Kentucky.
The Takeaway
Vanderbilt: The Commodores continue a big season that has included an upset of then-No. 1 Alabama. They found a way to win despite getting outgained 327-227 in total yards.
Auburn: Didn’t convert a third down until the first play of the fourth quarter, whiffing on its first nine attempts and going 2 of 13. The Tigers must beat UL Monroe, No. 10 Texas A&M, and No. 14 Alabama to become bowl eligible.
Up next
Vanderbilt: hosts South Carolina on Nov. 9. Auburn: vs. ULM on Nov. 16.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
