Vanderbilt pulls off stunning upset of No. 2 Alabama to complicate playoff picture

One week after knocking off No. 1 Georgia, Alabama was stunned 40-35 at Vanderbilt in a result that shakes up the College Football Playoff picture and the SEC title race.

It's Vanderbilt's first defeat of Alabama since Sept. 29, 1984 and its first defeat of a top-five opponent after 60 consecutive losses. The Commodores last won an SEC conference game on Nov. 19, 2022, against Florida

"It's too much to express right now," Commodores coach Clark Lea said in an interview with SEC Network on the field after the win. "I'm proud of our team. I believe in our team. I believe in what we are building. There's more for us than this. This isn't the finish point but it's a hell of an arrival. For tonight, we'll celebrate it."

The result was one of the most unexpected on SEC play. No. 2 Crimson Tide entered the game more than a three-touchdown favorite. But Alabama looked flat coming off its thrilling defeat of Georgia last week.

Vanderbilt jumped out to a 13-0 lead early in the first quarter. The Commodores' first touchdown came on the game's opening drive with Sedrick Alexander's 6-yard touchdown run capping off a 75-yard march that took more than six minutes. On the Crimson Tide's first possession, Randon Fontenette intercepted Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Milroe and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown.

Milroe would respond with two touchdowns runs in the first half as Alabama closed within 23-14 at halftime. The Crimson Tide would get within 30-28 when Milroe hit freshman Ryan Williams for a 58-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

From there, Vanderbilt took control. A field goal made it 33-28 and then a sack of Milroe forced a fumble that was recovered by Commodores defensive lineman Yilanan Ouattara. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia found Kamrean Johnson for a 6-yard touchdown to cap the ensuing drive and make the lead 40-28.

Alabama scored a late touchdown on a Williams run, but Vanderbilt was able to run out the clock with Pavia and the offense converting three first downs

Alabama's loss leaves Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Tennessee as the SEC's unbeaten teams with seven weeks left in the conference race. The Tide still have hope of winning the league title or earning an at-large berth in the playoff, but their margin of error got a lot slimmer with a loss.

(This story was updated to add new information and to change a photo.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vanderbilt stuns Alabama to shake up SEC, College Football Playoff