Pavia throws for 484 yards, Vandy sinks Kentucky 45-17

Diego Pavia threw for a career-high 484 yards and five touchdowns and No. 12 Vanderbilt beat Kentucky 45-17 Saturday as the Commodores kept their hopes for a College Football Playoff berth alive going into the regular-season finale.

Pavia, who struck yet another Heisman Trophy poise celebrating with teammates, set the program record, topping the 464 yards Whit Taylor had at Tennessee in 1981. Pavia also ran for 48 more yards and a sixth score.

“He’s the best player in the country and deserves to be in the Heisman conversation,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said of Pavia. 

The Vanderbilt quarterback has been at his best for three straight games. He has 1,226 yards passing with 11 TDs and only one interception in this stretch. He also has run for 203 yards with three more scores.

Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2, No. 14 CFP) has its most wins since 2013 and first with nine in the regular season since 1915. This is just the Commodores’ fifth nine-win season all time, and they go into their regular-season finale needing a victory for the first 10-win season in program history.

Kentucky (5-6, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) snapped a three-game winning streak. Coach Mark Stoops called the loss discouraging and credited Vanderbilt.

“That’s a very good football team in all areas,” Stoops said. “A very physical team that’s definitely worthy of being in the playoffs with a quarterback that is something else, that’s for sure.”

The Wildcats had held their last two SEC opponents to a combined 10 points in their winning streak. Cutter Boley had just 16 yards passing before getting his helmet knocked off late in the second quarter after completing a pass. He returned after a visit to the medical tent.

Kentucky wraps up the regular season needing a win at Louisville on Nov. 29 to be bowl eligible.



(AP Photo George Walker IV)