Clark Lea’s Vanderbilt Commodores shocked the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field to win their first game in SEC play since 2019.
A LOT has happened since Vanderbilt last won a conference game.
While the Commodores have been much improved under second-year head coach Clark Lea, a conference victory still evaded them. Although the ‘Dores play the Kentucky Wildcats annually as SEC East foes, nobody outside of Nashville expected for Vanderbilt to get the win in Lexington. Well, Dirty Mike Wright and the Boys anchored down and turned Kroger Field into a Toyota Prius.
Here is the play that Wright found Will Sheppard in the back of the end zone to stun Kentucky.
Dores take the lead!#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/j96a9JzOM0
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 12, 2022
It is officially basketball season in the Bluegrass State. What a terrible loss for Mark Stoops!
Vanderbilt upsets Kentucky in Lexington to end 26-game SEC losing streak
With the ‘Dores improving to 4-6 on the season, they are technically still alive when it comes to bowl eligibility. Although they would need to beat Florida and in-state nemesis Tennessee, the Commodores just beat a top-25 team in Lexington. While a bowl game may be out of reach for Vanderbilt this season, the Commodores are certainly trending in the right direction under Lea.
W in Lexington! #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/Vt02d73iVe
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 12, 2022
Kentucky hosts #UGA next Saturday.
— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) November 12, 2022
The Wildcats just lost to Vanderbilt at home.
First SEC win for Vanderbilt FB since Oct. 19, 2019 … a very happy and emotional Clark Lea after the game: pic.twitter.com/SmJ5H7M434
— Kayla Anderson ✨ (@KaylaAndersonTV) November 12, 2022
Absolutely love this for Clark Lea. He's done a great job building that culture and that roster. Vanderbilt deserves this.
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) November 12, 2022
When Lea was hired away from the Notre Dame defense, we all wondered if he could bring success back to his alma mater’s program. Although James Franklin had a great run in Nashville before departing for Penn State, the ‘Dores have largely not been able to compete on the gridiron with its conference foes for some time. Perhaps this could be changing for the better for them?
Vanderbilt’s 24-21 win at Kentucky:
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 12, 2022
* Ended the Commodores’ 28-game losing streak to Power 5 opponents (what was nation’s longest streak)
* Ended Kentucky’s streak of 43 consecutive victories when favored by at least 10 points (what was nation’s 2nd longest streak)
FINAL Vanderbilt 24 Kentucky 21
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 12, 2022
Commodores get first SEC victory in 27 attempts
Good for Clark Lea and company, horrible loss for Mark Stoops’ program
Vanderbilt winning outright as an 18 point road underdog at UK has to cement Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, who threw for 109 yards on 23 attempts with an interception, as the overall number one pick this year. Generational talent.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 12, 2022
Vanderbilt's last SEC win came before the start of the pandemic.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 12, 2022
Overall, this win says more about the Kentucky offense than anything. The Wildcats won double-digit games a year ago and had a returning star quarterback in Will Levis. Although he has all the traits of a first-round pick, this game will be the one that keeps him from going inside of the top 32 this spring in the 2023 NFL Draft. Clearly, Kentucky overlooked Vanderbilt badly in this game.
Vanderbilt beats No. 24 Kentucky to snap a 26-game losing streak in SEC play. That's the first signature win for Clark Lea at Vanderbilt, as the Commodores went from 2 wins in 2021 to their fourth so far this season.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 12, 2022
THE STREAK IS OVER!
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) November 12, 2022
VANDERBILT HAS WON A SEC GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019! pic.twitter.com/lYMeLvWY2p
Other teams against Vanderbilt:
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 12, 2022
Alabama 628 yards
Ole Miss 589 yards
Georgia 579 yards
Elon 495 yards
South Carolina 492 yards
Wake Forest 451 yards
Hawaii 358 yards
Northern Illinois 354 yards
Kentucky 322 yards
Missouri 308 yards
Rich Scangarello has not been good.
Nobody hands Vanderbilt 27 conference losses in a row, the Commodores have done it!!
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 12, 2022
Kentucky hosts SEC East nemesis Georgia next week with a chance to potentially hand the Dawgs their first loss on the season. However, the Wildcats just lost at home to Vanderbilt, so they clearly have bigger fish to fry than attempting to play spoiler to the defending national champions in their place. As for Vanderbilt, this is a win Lea and his program can certainly build on towards next year.
Congratulations on finally getting an SEC win under the Joe Biden Administration, Commodores!
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