Alabama's Staggering Upset Loss to Vanderbilt Left College Football Fans in Disbelief

The biggest upset of the year had fans reeling.

Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Randon Fontenette (2) runs a Alabama Crimson Tide interception in for a touchdown / Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The biggest upset of the 2024 college football season came on Saturday in the form of a tremendously entertaining Vanderbilt victory over No. 1 Alabama, 40-35. Playing in front of their home crowd and some loitering construction equipment, the Commodores played with no shortage of moxie and earned every inch of their gritty win.

Quarterback Diego Pavia was the hero of the day for the home side, finishing with 16 completions on 20 pass attempts for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns (including one incredibly bold fourth-down heave in the third quarter). The signal-caller also finished with 57 yards on the ground and picked up a few critical first downs in the stretch run.

It was a ton of fun to watch unfold for most of the college football world and the stunning upset left fans in disbelief. Here are some of the best reactions from the craziest upset of the year.

SHOCK. THE. WORLD

— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 5, 2024

UNRANKED VANDY UPSETS NO. 1 ALABAMA 😱

COMMODORES PULL OFF THE UNTHINKABLE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zSFc09sdJC

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 5, 2024

Diego Pavia was a 2-star recruit coming out of high school.

The QB chose to play for his home school New Mexico State, then followed OC Tim Beck to Vanderbilt.

He just led VANDY to TAKE DOWN #1 ALABAMA, 40-35. pic.twitter.com/g9ZNJSoxuz

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 5, 2024

Diego Pavia owns the state of Alabama.

Beat Auburn last year, beats No. 1 Alabama this year.

He'll have that forever.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 5, 2024

TONIGHT WE ARE ALL COMMODORES

DOWN GOES #1 ALABAMA

DIEGO PAVIA IS THE MAYOR OF NASHVILLE pic.twitter.com/aeCx2e8Ulo

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 5, 2024

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

ALABAMA JUST LOST TO VANDERBILT

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) October 5, 2024

MY SCHOOL VANDERBILT JUST PULLED OFF THE GREATEST UPSET I'VE EVERY ROOTED FOR IN MY LIFETIME: VANDERBILT 40, NO. 1 ALABAMA 35. THANK YOU, DIEGO PAVIA. THANK YOU, CLARK LEA. THANK YOU, COMMODORES FOOTBALL TEAM. #ANCHORDOWN

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 5, 2024

Anybody who says that this game doesn’t matter because Alabama can make the playoff anyway needs to be boo’d off of sports radio this week

Not many wins will ever matter more than this one

— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) October 5, 2024

Alabama got back to #1 after losing Nick Saban only to lose to Vanderbilt in an active construction site because of the heroism of a zero-star QB who played juco ball for the New Mexico Military Institute. What a world

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) October 5, 2024

“Alabama is the clear number one team in the country after beating Georgia last week”

Vandy: pic.twitter.com/CKEV5fh60Q

— Dylan Holt (@DylanHolt_) October 5, 2024

VANDERBILT IS GOING TO TAKE DOWN NO. 1 ALABAMA

THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 5, 2024

Alabama just lost to Vanderbilt after giving up 40 points!!

This is why @TexasFootball should’ve stayed the #1 team in the Nation. pic.twitter.com/NnNEiCzgj9

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 5, 2024

Vanderbilt, 0-60 all-time against top-5 foes, stuns No. 1 Alabama 40-35. First time beating them in 40 years.

And just a week after the Tide beat No. 2 Georgia.

Easily Bama's worst loss since ULM in Saban's first year.

All hail Clark Lea and Diego Pavia.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 5, 2024

Alabama fans right now pic.twitter.com/gedCdIRByR

— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) October 5, 2024