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Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier's eighth 300-yard game of the season and a two-touchdown game from running back Josh Williams ended LSU's losing streak as the Tigers (7-4, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) outlasted Vanderbilt (6-5, 3-4) 24-17 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. on Nov. 23.
It was the 10th consecutive win for the Tigers over the Commodores and gave LSU its seventh win. The Tigers moved ahead of No. 23 Missouri and No. 9 Ole Miss in the SEC standings after a wild college football Saturday.
LSU-Vanderbilt Game Summary
Vanderbilt jumped on LSU 7-0 with a 63-yard deep TD pass from quarterback Diego Pavia to wide receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. on its first play from scrimmage. It was a huge play to start the game and Vanderbilt attempted to steal momentum early. But LSU responded with an 8-play, 90-yard drive culminating with a 20-yard TD run from Williams to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:17 left in the first quarter.
Nussmeier and the LSU passing attack moved the ball up and down the field, completing 10 of his first 13 passes for 113 yards. Still, the Vanderbilt defense did its part to keep things close. The Commodores stopped the Tigers with a goal-line stand as Nussmeier had an incomplete pass at the Vanderbilt 3-yard line.
Vanderbilt mirrored the Tigers' aggressiveness. But it failed to convert on a fourth-and-2 deep in LSU territory in the second quarter. LSU took possession and marched back down the field as another Williams TD run put LSU up 14-7 at halftime.
Vanderbilt came within 4 points after a 47-yard Brock Taylor field goal made it 14-10 LSU in the third quarter. The Commodores' defense could not stop the LSU passing game. Nussmeier found a wide-open Kyren Lacy for a 12-yard TD to make it 21-10 Tigers with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
Damian Ramos' 28-yard field goal with 10:41 left in the fourth quarter put LSU up 24-10. Pavia added a 1-yard TD run with 5:47 left in the game to put the Commodores within 24-17. It put Vanderbilt in position for a comeback. But it didn't pan out as the offense never returned to the field.
Nussmeier finished the game with 332 yards and 1 TD on 28-of-37 passing, while Williams added 90 yards and his 2 rushing TDs. Pavia accounted for 229 total yards and 2 total TDs for Vanderbilt.
Turning Point
Vanderbilt's defense needed a late fourth-quarter stop with LSU having the ball. The Tigers had a 7-point lead with just under 2 minutes left in the game. The Commodores only had two timeouts left. It appeared that they had been saved from using one as Lacy went out of bounds after catching a pass on second down.
A massive third-down play came up that could have helped Vanderbilt extend the game. But it was called for a delay-of-game penalty for disconcerting signals. That gave the Tigers 5 yards and a first down on third-and-4 to ultimately end the game.
What it Means
LSU gets its seventh win this season. The Tigers had their best first-half rushing game with 97 yards on the ground through the first three quarters. When it mattered most, the [passing game came through to snap the Tigers' losing streak and get back in the win column against a dangerous SEC foe.
LSU closes out the regular season with a home game against Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5) on Nov. 30.
Vanderbilt drops to 6-5 but will play in a bowl game for the first time since 2018. Pavia has led the team all year. The Commodores have had a better season than many expected thanks to his play and leadership. A 6-win season is huge for the Vanderbilt program, despite its recent lull and 3-4 conference record.
Vanderbilt finishes the regular season at home against No. 11 Tennessee (9-2, 5-2) on Nov. 30.
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