Vanderbilt RB Makhilyn Young hurdles Kentucky CB JQ Hardaway along the Wildcats sidelines in Saturday's game.
Kentucky traveled 212 miles to Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday to take on Vanderbilt in an afternoon SEC tilt. The Wildcats rode into the contest on a three-game winning streak. Freshman quarterback Cutter Boley was on fire, completing passes at a 74-percent clip during the November stretch (4 TDs, 3 INTs). Prior to that, he produced a 330-yard, five-touchdown performance versus Tennessee in late October.
On the other side, it was Senior Day for the Commodores. It meant one final chance for fans to see Diego Pavia in First Bank Stadium.
And if fans were hoping to see Pavia put on a show, they were not disappointed. The SEC Offensive Player of the Year completed 33-of-39 passes for a school-record 484 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 48 yards and another score.
The biggest star of the contest, however, may have been one of Pavia’s receiving targets. Former Washburn speedster Tre Richardson caught eight passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns. On top of that, the 10.33-second, 100-meter sprinter had a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown called back due to offsetting fouls.
Defensively, the Commodores featured a number of standouts in a solid overall effort. Seven players shared the team lead in tackles (4), and five of them had at least a half-tackle for loss. Senior team captain Marlen Sewell shared a half-sack with fellow senior Nick Rinaldi. Graduate defensive end Khordae Sydnor posted the other quarterback sack for the ‘Dores.
Vandy United
Overall, Vanderbilt shined in its final performance in the completely renovated First Bank Stadium. On a day that celebrated its historic senior class, the Commodores went undefeated at home in a 45-17 victory. The work of athletic director Candice Storey Lee in regards to all of the school’s athletic endeavors continues to materialize.
The duo’s dream is no longer an illusion, and it has sent shock waves around the conference and nation.
We attempt to capture some of the game’s imagery in our photo collage.
Vanderbilt vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director Candice Storey Lee's vision for Vanderbilt continues to take shape. The end zone portion of First Bank Stadium was completed this fall.
The Huber Center houses a hydrotherapy and recovery suite, double height weight room, dedicated sports science area and multiple nutrition stations. It also has separate gyms for the men's and women's basketball squads.
With Kentucky and Vanderbilt separated by just 212 miles, the Wildcats fans took up their portion of First Bank Stadium.
Vanderbilt 2025 SEC Player of the Year Diego Pavia celebrates with his family and coaches prior to Saturday's contest.
Vanderbilt's current senior class (pictured prior to the game) has authored the team's first 10-win season, three victories over Top 15 opponents and an undefeated home record (7-0) in 2025.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia greets Kentucky's team captains prior to the game on Saturday.
The Vanderbilt Commodores started the game with a slow burn, as they held just a 3-0 lead after one quarter. However, by halftime, the Commodores led 24-3 over the Kentucky Wildcats.
Vanderbilt OT Isaia Glass -an ASU and Oklahoma State transfer- opens the hole for Pavia on the right side as Kentucky's Kam Olds closes in. Entering Vanderbilt's bowl game, Glass has started 34 career games in 44 appearances.
Pavia -a 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist- set a Vanderbilt record with 484 passing yards and 6 TDs (5 PASS, 1 RUSH) on Saturday. He also set the single-season record for passing yards during the contest. Pavia earned an invite to the 2026 Senior Bowl in late January.
Kentucky junior DE Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace sacks Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia in the second quarter.
Vanderbilt RB Makhilyn Young stiff-arms Kentucky LB Steven Soles, Jr. along the sidelines as Kentucky looks on. Young averaged over 9.1 yards per carry for the Commodores in 2025.
Vanderbilt RB Makhilyn Young hurdles Kentucky CB JQ Hardaway along the Wildcats sidelines in Saturday's game.
Vanderbilt WR Junior Sherrill (No. 0 pictured) races across the field for a 37-yard gain in the third quarter of Saturday's action. Sherrill -a Nashville native- posted a career-high eight receptions for 115 yards and one score in the contest.
Vanderbilt senior safety Marlen Sewell breaks down to tackle Kentucky WR Kendrick Law (No. 1 pictured) on a screen pass.
Kentucky second-team All-SEC safety Ty Bryant sets up to tackle Vanderbilt WR Junior Sherrill as Antwan Smith brings him down. Bryant had eight tackles, a half-tackle for loss and one interception in the contest.
Kentucky RB Seth McGowan (seen running behind RT No. 50 Alex Wollschlaeger) -a 2026 Senior Bowl invite- scored 12 touchdowns for the Wildcats in 2025. This came a year after he averaged over 5.4 yards (6 Total TDs) per carry for the New Mexico State Aggies in 2024.
Kentucky Freshman All-SEC quarterback Cutter Boley (pictured throwing on the move to the right) led the Wildcats to three straight wins entering the contest. Boley completed 66-percent of his passes in 2025 for 2,160 yards, 15 TDs and 12 INTs.
Kentucky TE Willie Rodriguez makes a one-handed catch in front of Vanderbilt safety Dontae Carter and cornerback Jaylin Lackey. The sophomore finished with six catches for 78 yards on the afternoon.
Kentucky wide receiver Fred Farrier II, pictured, catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of Saturday's contest.
Vanderbilt quarterback Blake Berlowitz, pictured, avoids a sack attempt by Kentucky's Jailen Ruth in the fourth quarter as Jaden Williams attempts to close the gap.
Tre Richardson continued his explosive debut campaign for the Commodores. His 159-yard receiving performance included three touchdowns, and a fourth (99-yd KR-TD) called back due to penalty.
Former Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops and Vanderbilt's Clark Lea meet at the end of Saturday's contest. Stoops went to eight consecutive bowl games during his tenure at the school.
Back-to-back SEC Coach of the Year Clark Lea has led the Commodores to 17 wins over the last two seasons. He is the first coach in school history to win 10 games in a season.
The Vanderbilt Commodores finished 7-0 at home for the first time in school history.
