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Diego Pavia's 21-yard TD run pads Vandy's lead (0:24)
Diego Pavia escapes the pocket and takes it 21 yards to the end zone to extend Vanderbilt's lead. (0:24)
ESPN News Services
Oct 18, 2025, 03:47 PM ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Diego Pavia threw for 160 yards and a score and ran for 86 yards and two more touchdowns as No. 17 Vanderbilt beat 10th-ranked LSU 31-24 on Saturday to snap a 10-game skid against the Tigers.
Pavia, who entered the game with odds of 150-1 to win the Heisman Trophy at ESPN BET, capped his 21-yard touchdown run at the end of the third quarter by striking a Heisman Trophy pose in the end zone.
Vanderbilt never trailed in what was the fourth meeting since 1947 with both schools ranked in the AP poll. It also was Vandy's first victory against LSU since 1990.
Pavia has had a passing or rushing touchdown in 25 straight games -- the second-longest active streak in FBS behind FSU's Tommy Castellanos (27). He now has 13 wins as the Vanderbilt starting quarterback. Prior to Pavia's arrival, the Commodores had 12 wins total from 2019 to 2023.
The Commodores earned their second win against a top-15 ranked opponent this season -- a first in program history -- while improving to 6-1 for the first time since 1950. The 31 points was the third-most in program history against a top-10 opponent.
The Tigers (5-2, 2-2) had some big plays with Garrett Nussmeier throwing for 225 yards and two TDs, including a 62-yarder to Zavion Thomas. Caden Durham also had a 51-yard run down to the Vandy 2 before the Commodores forced LSU to settle for one of four field-goal attempts.
That wasn't enough against a Vanderbilt offense that came in seventh in the nation averaging 43.2 points a game. The Commodores scored the most points LSU has given up this season with a defense ranked fifth in the country allowing 11.8 points a game.
Vanderbilt, which earned their second win vs. a ranked opponent this season, punted only twice, both times in the fourth quarter.
LSU's best chance came after the first Vandy punt trailing 31-24 with 8:55 left. Zaylin Wood sacked Nussmeier on the first play. LSU had to punt the ball back three plays later and never threatened after that.
The Tigers struggled to run against a Vandy defense that came in ranked 16th nationally. LSU settled for too many field goals by Damian Ramos, who made kicks of 48, 42 and 23 yards. He missed a 52-yarder.
After the final second ticked off, Vanderbilt started the celebration by playing "Callin' Baton Rouge" on the stadium speakers while safely protecting both goalposts. The Commodores host No. 16 Missouri next week, while LSU visits No. 4 Texas A&M.
ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
