Live Blog: No. 17 Vanderbilt Football vs. No. 10 LSU

NASHVILLE — Can Vanderbilt get a signature win on its resume?

That is the question of the week as it hosts No. 10 LSU in FirstBank Stadium Saturday morning. The Commodores are hoping that the rest that they got last week on the bye will help contribute to a big time win.

Last time Vanderbilt played, it lost 30-14 to then-No. 10 Alabama. But make no mistake, the Commodores held their own for a majority of the game, especially on defense. Vanderbilt’s ability to hold the Crimson Tide to field goals rather than touchdowns gave the offense chances to comeback and pull off an upset.

This weekend, Vanderbilt is looking to become among one of the first teams in college football to become bowl eligible this season. While that is nice to clinch a spot in a bowl game this early in the year, Vanderbilt has much higher aspirations than to just make an appearance in a bowl game.

With the LSU Tigers coming to town, it feels like a must win game for both sides if both teams want a serious chance to make the College Football Playoff. LSU, while it has not exploded offensively, it has one of the best defenses in college football. The Tigers have only allowed more than 10 points in a game one time this season, in their only loss to Ole Miss.

The winner moves to 6-1 and raises its playoff odds. The loser drops to 5-2 and is left fighting the rest of the season for its playoff hopes.

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

Live Blog

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4th Quarter

Final: Vanderbilt 31, LSU 24. What a win for the Commodores.

Pavia runs its on 3rd and 7 for a first down. The Commodores have it on the 1-yard line. They can just take a knee and win this game because LSU is out of timeouts.

MK Young with a massive run into the redzone. Vanderbilt's got it on the 15-yard line. You can feel the energy and momentum in this crowd. Incredible.

Another huge defensive stop there from Vanderbilt to force another punt. If you're Vanderbilt you do not even need to score. Two or three first downs should probably be enough to ice the time away with 3:12 left.

Tre Richardson drops a beautiful throw from Pavia on 3rd and 6 and Vanderbilt punts. LSU ball with 4:40 to go on its own 20-yard line.

Zaylin Wood's sack put LSU behind the chains to start the drive and the Tigers never recovered. Great effort from the Vanderbilt defensive line on that possession. Vanderbilt ball with 6:28 to go.

That was a bad no call there. LSU defender clearly taunted by stepping over a Vanderbilt player, but there was no call from the ref. Instead Vanderbilt punts for the first time today.

A huge goal line stand for the Vanderbilt defense there. LSU had it on the 1, but ended up settling for a field goal 31-24 Vanderbilt with 11:39 remaining.

3rd Quarter

Diego Pavia escapes the pocket and finds a big hole up the middle for a touchdown. 31-21 Vanderbilt. What an answer for the Commodores, and certainly a much needed response.

Wow, what a way for Pavia to avoid the sack on 4th and 1 and get it off to MK Young. Huge conversion right there for Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt misses a tackle on a screen pass, and it proves costly. LSU runs it all the way to the end zone for a touchdown. 24-21 Vanderbilt after a LSU 2-point conversion. That was a huge mistake for the Commodores.

What a drive from Vanderbilt out of halftime. The Commodores drive the field and Pavia finishes the drive with a touchdown to Cole Spence. 24-13 Vanderbilt. Seemed like the offensive line got a lot more push that drive. And how about Cole Spence. He has played a big role today.

2nd Quarter

Vanderbilt goes with some aggressive play calling and it pays off. Commodores drive to the LSU 28 and Brock Taylor nails a 46-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-13 with 2 seconds to go.

Vanderbilt holds LSU to a field goal. Good stand by the defense after being put in a bad position from the 4th down sack. Commodores lead 14-13 with 45 seconds to go before halftime.

Vanderbilt goes for it on 4th and 1 from its own 45-yard line and Pavia gets sacked on the play. Huge momentum swing play there, not sure if I like the call too much, though I can see the aggressiveness in this type of game.

LSU misses a field goal thanks to a jumbotron distraction from Vanderbilt mascot Mr. C. Vanderbilt still up 14-10.

Sedrick Alexander caps off a touchdown drive on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line. Huge call there from Clark Lea and offensive coordinator Tim Beck. To beat LSU, Vanderbilt needs touchdowns instead of field goals. The gamble pays off and its 14-10 Vanderbilt.

Nussmeier completes a screen pass that goes for a 24-yard touchdown that puts LSU back on top. 10-7 LSU.

1st Quarter

1st quarter finished up with a LSU run for a first down. The Tigers are driving down the field after a 3rd and 10 completion at the start of the possession. LSU is on the Vanderbilt 24-yard line.

Pavia sneaks it in from the 1-yard line into the end zone as Vanderbilt takes the lead. What a fantastic start by the Commodore offense against a very good defense. 7-3 Vanderbilt.

Big catch from Cole Spence on third down, Vanderbilt at the LSU 32-yard line. Vanderbilt needs touchdowns when they get into plus territory. You never know how many chances you get against this defense.

The Commodores get the third down stop and hold LSU to a field goal. 3-0 LSU.

LSU driving down the field, but Vanderbilt has the Tigers at 3rd and 13 from the Vanderbilt 31-yard line. This is where Vanderbilt needs to come up with the crucial stops and making sure touchdowns are prevented.

Pregame

Vanderbilt won the toss and deferred to the second half. LSU gets ball first.

Plenty of stars out on the field today as Theo Von and singer/songwriter Noah Kahan were seen on the field during pregame.

Fans of both teams are coming into the stadium. I walked past plenty of LSU fans on the way in, so it should be interesting to see what the split is in the crowd today. Official kickoff time is 11:07 a.m. CT.

Weather Report

It is a nice day here in Nashville this morning. There are not too many clouds in the sky as temperatures are expected to be in the upper 70s by kickoff and rise up to 83 by the end of the game. There is no rain or other inclement weather in the forecast. It is a beautiful, yet warm mid-October day.