VUFB Game Week – Utah State – Vanderbilt Commodores

The Dores wrap up nonconference action against the Aggies Saturday afternoon
Game 5: 18/20 Vanderbilt (4-0) vs. Utah State (3-1)
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 • 11:45 a.m.
Where: FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: SEC Network (Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang)
Listen: 102.5 The Game (Andrew Allegretta, Norman Jordan and Kevin Ingram)
WEEK 5 UP NEXT
• Off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2008, Vanderbilt is home for the second week in a row this Saturday, hosting Utah State at FirstBank Stadium.
• Saturday’s contest will mark the first meeting between the two schools. The Aggies will be Vanderbilt’s first-ever opponent from the state of Utah.
• Vandy has won each of its first four games by 20-plus points for the first time since 1930.
• The Dores close out nonconference play with Utah State on Saturday before returning to conference action at Alabama on Oct. 4.
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
• Vanderbilt defeated Georgia State 70-21 on Saturday evening at FirstBank Stadium, breaking multiple program records in the process.
• The Dores averaged 8.9 yards per play, the most in program history. The previous record was 8.7 yards per play vs. Miami (Fla.) in 1948.
• Vanderbilt’s 70 points were the most points scored since 1918 (76 vs. Tennessee).
• The Commodores’ 42 points in the first half were the most first-half points scored by Vandy since at least 1996.
• On special teams, the Dores recorded their first blocked PAT attempt since 2017, returned a blocked punt for a touchdown for the first time since 2014 and registered their first blocked field goal since 2022.
• With 236 passing and 322 all-purpose yards in the first half alone, Diego Pavia eclipsed 3,000 passing and 4,000 yards of total offense at Vanderbilt.
• Brock Taylor set the school record for most extra points made in a game and matched the program record for most PAT attempts with nine.
POLL PLACEMENT

• Vanderbilt rose in the polls after the record-setting win over Georgia State, coming in at No. 18 in the AP poll and No. 20 in the AFCA Coaches poll.
• The No. 18 mark in the AP poll is Vanderbilt’s highest ranking since 2008 when the Dores reached No. 13.
• It’s the second consecutive season the Dores have appeared in the polls, marking the first occurence since 2012 and 2013. It is just the second time Vanderbilt has reached the top 25 in consecutive seasons since 1956 and only the sixth occurence in the AP poll’s 90-year history.
BLOCK PARTY
• Vanderbilt blocked an extra-point, field goal and punt in the Week 4 win over Georgia State.
• The last time a team blocked one of each type of kick in a game was Oklahoma State in 2014. Vandy was the first SEC program to accomplish the feat since at least 2002.
• Jamison Curtis was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week after he blocked a GSU punt and returned it 4 yards for a touchdown.
• Emmanuel Adebi blocked a GSU field goal attempt, the eighth blocked kick of his career. Adebi set the program record at Cornell with seven blocked kicks.
• The Dores’ three blocked kicks this season is tied for second among FBS teams.
SCORING MARGINS
• Through four games, Vanderbilt is outscoring its opponents 190-51, a margin of +139. The Commodores have won each of their first four games of the season by 20-plus points, marking the first time Vandy has opened the year with four-straight blowout wins since 1930.
• The Commodores outscored opponents 256-182 entering November last season, good for a margin of +74 points.
• It was the largest scoring margin by a Vanderbilt team entering November since 1955 when the Dores held a +86 edge at the end of October.
DOMINANT DIEGO
• With 236 passing and 322 all-purpose yards in the first half vs. Georgia State in Week 4, Diego Pavia eclipsed 3,000 passing and 4,000 yards of total offense at Vanderbilt.
• Diego Pavia tossed two touchdowns in Vandy’s win at South Carolina, becoming the first Vanderbilt quarterback to throw for multiple touchdowns in four-straight games since Jordan Rodgers in 2012.
• Pavia has accounted for 1,105 yards of offense through the first four games, going 68-of-92 through the air for 890 yards while adding 215 yards on 39 carries and is now over 10,000 total yards for his NCAA FBS careeer.
SEDRICK THE ENTERTAINER
• Running back Sedrick Alexander picked up right where he left off in 2024, scoring in each of the first four games of the season after scoring in each of the first three games last season.
• The back leads the team with four rushing, and seven total touchdowns.
• With a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter vs. Georgia State, Alexander extended his four-game scoring streak, which is the longest of his career. He also hauled in a 10-yard touchdown catch and has posted a rushing and receiving touchdown in back-to-back games.
YOUNG RUNNING WILD & FREE
• Makhilyn Young burst onto the scene in his first two games with the Dores, running for 114 yards on just 11 carries. In 14 games prior to Vandy, Young had just 201 yards on the ground.
• Young recorded Vandy’s longest rushing touchdown of the season with a 60-yard score against Georgia State.
• Young carried a career-high eight times in the Virginia Tech win, racking up a career-best 95 yards on the ground. He added a 12-yard reception to lead all players in all-purpose yardage.
• The career day also include a collegiate-best 62 yard carry to help seal the win in the fourth quarter.
• 29 of Young’s 95 yards came after contact, according to PFF. That mark is also a career best for the junior. In total, Young set or matched eight career highs against the Hokies.
NEW SEASON, NEW HIGHT
• No need to blink, that is junior Martel Hight split out at wide receiver this season. The veteran corner will play both ways for the first time in his collegiate career.
• The Rome, Georgia, native was named the Paul Hornung Award national Player of the Week after finding multiple ways to contribute in the Dores’ 31-7 victory at Nationally-ranked South Carolina in Week 3.
• Against the Gamecocks, finished with a career-high four catches for 33 yards. Hight threw the key block springing Jamezell Lassiter free for a 44-yard touchdown run that gave the Dores a double-digit lead for good in the third quarter,
• On the defensive side, Hight helped limit South Carolina to just 86 yards rushing.
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