NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Vanderbilt Commodores have never beaten a No. 1 team in football. Thanks to a very fast start, they are putting themselves in position to do just that.
Or at least scare the Alabama Crimson Tide by taking their biggest lead ever over a top-ranked team.
Vanderbilt led Alabama 23-14 at halftime after scoring the first 13 points and took a 16-point lead that was the Commodores' largest ever over the No. 1 team in the country. Only the Tide scoring late trimmed that to single digits.
Alabama just moved to the top of The Associated Press' Top 25 after a big win over Georgia. The Tide won the opening toss and deferred.
Vanderbilt, which hasn't beaten Alabama on the field since 1984, immediately drove down the field for a 7-yard touchdown run by Sedrick Alexander to take the lead. It was the first time since 2007 Vandy had opened a game against Alabama with a TD, and that was Nick Saban's second game as coach.
Alabama rallied and won that day 24-10.
This time, the Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) helped Vanderbilt pad that lead.
Jalen Milroe, who put himself among the top Heisman Trophy candidates with his play against Georgia, had his second pass tipped into the air by De'Rickey Wright who committed to Alabama and wound up at Vanderbilt.
Randon Fontenette grabbed the ball and ran 24 yards to the end zone for the Pick-6 and a 13-0 lead at 8:03 of the first quarter.
Jam Miller capped a seven-play drive for Alabama with an 8-yard TD run as the Tide appeared ready to take control.
Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1) scored 10 straight to go up 23-7, just the second time in the last 10 seasons that a No. 1 team trailed an unranked opponent by 16 or more points. Clemson trailed by 18 to Boston College in 2020 and won 30-28.
The Commodores got help from Alabama to keep a 17-play drive that used up 9:50 of the clock with a pair of penalties. The Tide, with 17-year-old phenom Ryan Williams back to field the punt, also had another player on the field with the same No. 2 to give Vandy a first down.
On third down, Alabama linebacker Que Robinson hit quarterback Diego Pavia and drew a flag for roughing that Tide fans hated. Five plays later, Alexander scored from a yard out to put Vandy up 20-7.
Brock Taylor put Vandy up 23-7 with a 51-yard field goal with 4:10 left in the first half. Taylor had missed two field goals including one in the second overtime of a road loss at then-No. 7 Missouri.
Alabama finally answered with Miller's second TD with 1:25 left.
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Vanderbilt linebacker Randon Fontenette (2) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid rebounded from its first loss in nearly 10 months by beating Villarreal 2-0 at the possible cost of injured right back Dani Carvajal in La Liga on Saturday.
Federico Valverde and Vinícius Júnior scored for the defending champions four days after they lost at Lille 1-0 in the Champions League to halt a 36-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Madrid remains unbeaten in 41 consecutive Spanish league games. Beating third-placed Villarreal gave Madrid the same 21 points as Barcelona, which visits Alaves on Sunday.
Carvajal was hurt in second-half stoppage time at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, going down in pain after kicking the leg of an opponent. He appeared to make a gesture showing something snapped in his leg. The Spain international was crying when he was carried off the field on a stretcher.
“It looks like it's a very serious knee injury," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “Everyone is sad and worried. It's something that happens very often because of the calendar and it has happened to a very important player in out squad.”
Ancelotti said Carvajal will undergo tests. Madrid's reserve right back is Lucas Vázquez.
“Carvajal is a key player for us because of his experience and his attitude,” Ancelotti said of the 32-year-old defender who started in Madrid's youth squads and joined the main team in 2013-14.
Villarreal, which was coming off two straight wins, had only one attempt on target. Madrid had two, scoring on both of them.
Valverde scored in the 14th minute with a long-range shot that deflected in off a defender. Vinícius struck from outside the area in the 72nd into the top corner.
Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas was sent off in a 1-0 win at last-placed Las Palmas after being issued consecutive yellow cards for protesting.
He complained about the referee’s decision to show a red card to teammate Ilaix Moriba and received the first yellow in the 54th minute. Aspas' second came in the 56th. The striker was seen briefly asking his teammates to leave the field after he was sent off.
Celta held on despite playing two men down to the end of the match. Borja Iglesia scored a 28th-minute winner in the visitor's only attempt on goal.
The result ended a three-game winless streak for Celta.
Las Palmas, the only team yet to win in the league, hasn’t won in 23 straight league matches going back to last season, when it barely avoided relegation.
Jorge de Frutos scored a pair of second-half goals for Rayo Vallecano to win at Valladolid 2-1, while Espanyol defeated Mallorca 2-1 at home and Osasuna drew at Getafe 1-1.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Villarreal's Alex Baena holds Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga falls in front of Villarreal's Alex Baena during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid players celebrate after a goal during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal receives the ball during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde celebrates after he scored during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez checks on his teammate Dani Carvajal during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal is carried off the pitch during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal grimaces in pain during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
