Vanderbilt outlasts Auburn in overtime thriller, 45–38, as Diego Pavia dazzles and Daniels shines in defeat

In a game that delivered fireworks from start to finish, No. 15 Vanderbilt kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 45–38 overtime victory over Auburn on Saturday, November 8, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.

The Commodores (8–2, 4–2 SEC) overcame a 10-point second-half deficit behind a heroic performance from quarterback Diego Pavia, who threw for a career-high 377 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 112 rushing yards and a score on the ground. His 4-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spence in overtime proved to be the game-winner.

Auburn (4–6, 1–6 SEC), playing its first game under interim head coach DJ Durkin following the firing of Hugh Freeze, showed renewed offensive life behind sophomore quarterback Ashton Daniels. In just his second start, Daniels threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 89 yards and two more scores, including a 16-yard scamper in the third quarter that briefly gave Auburn the lead.

The Tigers tied the game at 38 with 5:27 left in regulation when Daniels connected with Cam Coleman for a 23-yard touchdown and then again for a two-point conversion. Auburn had a chance to win in regulation after stopping Pavia on a fourth-and-1 with just over a minute remaining, but their final drive stalled short of field goal range.

In overtime, Vanderbilt struck first with Pavia's RPO touchdown to Spence. Auburn's response faltered-after a promising 10-yard run by Jeremiah Cobb, Daniels threw three straight incompletions, including a fourth-down overthrow to Coleman in the end zone, sealing the win for the Commodores.

The game was a showcase of offensive firepower and resilience. Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers caught 12 passes for 122 yards, while Tre Richardson added 124 yards on just three receptions, including a 57-yard touchdown. Sedrick Alexander chipped in with two rushing scores.

Despite the loss, Auburn posted a season-high 544 total yards, a stark contrast to their offensive struggles earlier in the season, including a 10–3 loss to Kentucky the previous week. However, 12 penalties for 91 yards and missed opportunities in key moments proved costly.

For Vanderbilt, the win marked their fifth home sellout of the season and kept them in the thick of the SEC race. Head coach Clark Lea emphasized the urgency before the game: "Everything's at stake, and the mission is winning".

With two games remaining, Auburn will need to win out to become bowl eligible, while Vanderbilt eyes a potential New Year's Six berth if they can continue their winning streak.