Vanderbilt’s 3rd Down Efficiency Paves the Way for Alabama Upset

The Vanderbilt Commodores pulled off a stunning upset against the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide last Saturday. Coming into the game as 23-point underdogs, Vanderbilt hadn’t beaten Alabama in 40 years and had NEVER taken down a top-five team. So, how did the Commodores pull off the impossible? Jumping out to a quick 13-0 lead, punctuated by a pick-six, certainly set the tone. But even with that lead, no one truly believed they’d hold on to win. Normally, I’m not a big box score guy, but as I broke down this game, one stat kept jumping out: Vanderbilt’s third-down efficiency. The Commodores converted 12 of 18 third downs and pulled off a gutsy 4th-down call that was one of the boldest I’ve seen in a long time. In this article, we’ll break down a few of these key 3rd and 4th down plays that helped Vanderbilt seal the upset.

Q1 | 12:13 | 3rd & 5

Vanderbilt’s first 3rd down conversion came on a well-executed screen pass. The running back crossed the formation between the offensive line and slipped into the flat. Crucially, he stayed behind the line of scrimmage, allowing the single receiver to lay a block on the inside linebacker, who had the back in man coverage. This was a smart play design by Vanderbilt, exploiting Alabama’s man coverage concept. The receiver effectively blocked two players—his man, the cornerback, and the linebacker chasing the back—creating a clear path for the first down.

Q1 | 9:00 | 3rd & 1

On their next 3rd down, Vanderbilt ran the Down G to perfection. The running back kept his legs driving, and with a little extra push from the offensive line, powered his way into the end zone. It was a textbook execution of downhill running, capped off with physicality at the point of attack.

Q1 | 3:12 | 3rd & 6

On this 3rd down, Vanderbilt’s quarterback evaded the pass rush and extended the play with his legs, finding a receiver for the first down on a scramble drill. There’s not much to dissect here beyond a great individual effort from a talented quarterback making a clutch play.

Q2 | 9:36 | 3rd & G

After being stopped on a previous 3rd down, Vanderbilt faced another key 3rd down, this time at the goal line. They returned to the Down G concept, and once again, it delivered—punching it in for the touchdown.

Q2 | 1:14 | 3rd & 5

Just before halftime, Vanderbilt dialed up a perfectly timed shovel read. Earlier in the game, they had shown speed option looks, which caused the Alabama defenders to aggressively commit to the quarterback and pitch. This left the H/Y uncovered for the shovel pass, resulting in a big 30-yard gain.

Q3 | 10:36 | 3rd & 9

In the third quarter, Vanderbilt converted another crucial 3rd down, this time with a well-executed "chase" route. The slot receiver worked outside, then broke back inside, chasing the #1 receiver across the field. It’s a smart concept that challenges standard coverage rules, and Vanderbilt ran it to perfection here.

Q3 | 8:39 | 3rd & 8

On this 3rd down, Vanderbilt motioned into a stack and ran a smash concept. The #1 receiver ran a banana corner route, while the #2 ran an out route. Once again, Vanderbilt exploited Alabama’s man coverage by using the stack to create leverage, then executing a well-designed route combination.

Q3 | 6:31 | 3rd & 9

Vanderbilt didn’t convert this 3rd down, but they should have. The quarterback delivered a perfect throw, but it was dropped. A missed opportunity, but worth mentioning, as a catch here would have pushed Vanderbilt to 13-of-18 on 3rd down conversions for the night.

Q3 | 3:02 | 4th & 1

After coming up just short on 3rd and 6, Vanderbilt made the bold decision to go for it on 4th and 1. They sugar-huddled, then sprinted to the line in a quads formation into the boundary, covering up the inside receiver. The confusion caused Alabama to struggle with identifying eligible receivers and setting their coverage. Vanderbilt quickly snapped the ball and ran a play-action pass designed to hit the flat. However, the inside receiver broke free up the middle, and the quarterback delivered a perfect throw for a touchdown. The quarterback did a fantastic job keeping his composure when his first option was covered, finding the open man deep. With the game within two points at that moment, this was arguably Vanderbilt’s most critical conversion of the night.

Conclusion

For Vanderbilt to pull off the unthinkable and beat a team as talented as Alabama, execution had to be the focus. And nothing demonstrates execution better than converting 13 third and fourth downs in one game. Vanderbilt not only executed consistently throughout the night, but they also capitalized on Alabama's over-aggression and reliance on man coverage—especially in key 3rd down situations. This game was a masterclass in game planning and execution by Vanderbilt. Congratulations to the Commodores! The drought is finally over.