The Vanderbilt Commodores opened the 2025 season by doing what you’re supposed to do against a team picked to finish last in the OVC-Big South mashup: win comfortably.
Six different players found the end zone for Vanderbilt on Saturday night, with Diego Pavia throwing touchdown passes to Kayleb Barnett, Junior Sherrill, and Sedrick Alexander, and AJ Newberry, Makhilyn Young, and Jamezell Lassiter scoring on the ground. The Commodores led 28-0 at halftime and were in complete control for the entire
game, leading 45-0 before Charleston Southern connected on a 38-yard field goal in the closing seconds to avoid getting shut out.
Everything clicked while the starters were still in the game. Diego Pavia finished the night 20-of-25 for 275 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, and also ran 8 times for 44 yards, before yielding to backup Blaze Berlowitz in the fourth quarter. Sedrick Alexander had 12 carries for 83 yards and a highlight catch on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Eli Stowers didn’t find the end zone, but did have four catches for 86 yards, while Washburn transfer Tre Richardson had five catches for 74 yards. Brock Taylor made a 35-yard field goal that would’ve been good from 50.
Like I said, everything clicked. Unlike some previous years, the Commodores didn’t mess around with the FCS team on the schedule and started the season 1-0. Now, the real schedule starts with Vanderbilt heading to Virginia Tech next weekend.
