Live Blog: No. 14 Vanderbilt Football vs. Kentucky

NASHVILLE – It is officially Senior Day in Nashville, Tennessee as No. 14 Vanderbilt plays its final home game of the season against a Kentucky team that is looking to clinch bowl eligibility while spoiling Vanderbilt’s season.

Vanderbilt is coming off its second and final bye week of the season after its thrilling overtime victory against Auburn two weeks ago. The Commodores jumped from No. 16 to No. 14 in the College Football Playoff rankings following that win, but stayed put while getting jumped by No. 13 Miami in this latest rankings.

The Commodores' hopes of appearing in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history are not over, though. Winning out is a must, but teams ahead of them still have reasonable chances to lose before selection Sunday.

However, it will not be easy. Kentucky rolls into the Music City off three straight victories where the Wildcats have turned what was a lost season into one that could end in a bowl game appearance.

Kentucky’s defense has been the main catalyst of the winning streak, taking the ball away seven times in the three games. Ball security is a must if Vanderbilt wants to finish the season undefeated at home.

The final home game of the season means that the senior class of Vanderbilt will be honored at today’s game. Today, fans will give honor and recognition to the class of players that was one of the biggest components of the incredible turnaround the Vanderbilt program has had over the past two seasons. In 2023, Vanderbilt was 2-10. In 2025, it is off to a 8-2 record before the final two weeks of the regular season.

Vanderbilt and Kentucky are scheduled to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Follow the live blog here for live updates from tonight’s Vanderbilt-Kentucky game.

Live Blog

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4th Quarter

FINAL: Vanderbilt beats Kentucky 45-17 to keep its playoff hopes alive. Vanderbilt finishes the season undefeated at home for the 2025 season.

Diego Pavia has just broken the Vanderbilt single-game passing record with a 21-yard pass to Junior Sherrill. It was 465, now it is 469 and counting. What a way to go out for Pavia.

Kentucky gets a huge touchdown to cut the lead to 35. A touchdown is worth 6-7 points. 45-10 Vanderbilt.

3rd Quarter

Pavia is making an incredible case to be the Heisman finalist. 448 yards and four touchdowns passing plus 48 yards rushing and a touchdown.

My goodness this is utter domination. Pavia just eclipsed his career-high in passing yards as he threw another touchdown pass to senior Richie Hoskins. 45-3 Vanderbilt.

Pavia runs its in for another Vanderbilt touchdown. This is exactly what Vanderbilt needed for the committee to see. This game is not even competitive. 38-3 Vanderbilt.

What a nice pass from Pavia to Junior Sherrill for the touchdown on 1st and goal. Vanderbilt drives the field to start the 2nd half. 31-3 Vanderbilt.

2nd Quarter

Members of both coaching staffs got called for personal fouls. There was a bit of a scrum on the way to the locker room, but something was said or done that warranted both sides a personal foul.

Martel Hight intercepts a hail mary attempt to end the half. 24-3 Commodores going into the break. Just an all-out dominant performance from Vanderbilt in the first 30 minutes.

Oh my goodness Tre Richardson does it yet again. A hat trick of touchdowns for the Washburn transfer. 144 yards and three touchdowns on five catches. Just an incredible performance. 24-3 Vanderbilt.

Cutter Boley did return to the game for Kentucky, but the Vanderbilt defense still forces Kentucky into a field goal attempt. 17-3 Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt goes for it on 4th and 1, but the snap goes through the hands of Sedrick Alexander, who is unable to pick up the first down. Vanderbilt just outsmarted itself there, that play call made no sense. Kentucky takes over on the Vanderbilt 28-yard line.

Kolbey Taylor gets an interception off Calzada. What a moment for Taylor on Senior Day. Vanderbilt's got the ball on its own 25-yard line.

Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley was on the ground with an apparent injury for a couple minutes and got helped off the fiedl by two trainers. Not sure of his status yet, but Zach Calzada is in the game for Kentucky now.

The speed of Tre Richardson comes in handy as he take wide receiver screen pass to the end zone. 17-0 Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt is cruising down the field on this drive with a 1st and 10 on the Kentucky 15-yard line. Commodores are getting close to getting this game wide open with a touchdown.

A huge sack from Marlen Sewell and Nick Rinaldi on 3rd down right there. This Vanderbilt defense is looking way better compared to the Auburn game.

Bryce Henderson is down on the field with an apparent injury, but did walk off under his own power. Not sure what it was yet as Vanderbilt goes three-and-out on offense.

Another three-and-out for Vanderbilt's defense as the Wildcats go out to punt again.

Pavia throws a bomb down the field to Tre Richardson, who goes all the way for a Vanderbilt touchdown. That was a perfect throw from Pavia there. 10-0 Vanderbilt.

What a play from Bryan Longwell, ripping through Kentucky's offensive line and getting a tackle for loss. Kentucky will now punt.

1st Quarter

Kentucky has a 3rd and 1 as the first quartet comes to a close. Felt like that was one of the fastest quarters of the season for Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt chews up nearly 10 minutes of time on its first drive, but only comes away with a field goal. 3-0 Vanderbilt.

Kentucky gets a first down, but Vanderbilt stifles the drive defensively and forces a punt.

Pregame

Kentucky gets the ball to start the game.

Diego Pavia was honored pregame today for the Senior Day activities.

Tennessee Titans wide reciever Xavier Restrepo is in the house today.

Both teams are out on the field for warm-ups as we hit a little under two hours before kickoff.

Weather Report

It is a nice day for a late-November football game. There is no sun to beat down on fans, but it is not unbearably cold compared to other places this time of year. The forecast for today’s Vanderbilt-Kentucky game is cloudy throughout the whole day. As of now, there is no rain or other inclement weather in the forecast. The temperature at kickoff will be 63 degrees and dip into the mid-50s by the end of the game. If the forecast changes, the weather report will be updated.