Vanderbilt snaps 26-game SEC losing streak, upsets No. 24 Kentucky 24-21

Mike Wright found Will Sheppard on a slant route for an eight-yard game-winning touchdown with 32 seconds left in regulation to give Vanderbilt a 24-21 victory over No. 24 Kentucky. The win marked the Commodores’ first SEC win since October of 2019, snapping a 26-game losing streak in the process.

“There were opportunities for them to make assumptions about the outcome. We got behind late, but they just kept fighting,” Vanderbilt head coach Cark Lea emotionally said after the win. “I think when you stay in the fight and you believe good things can happen – and they were able to make it happen.”

A pretty straightforward game turned hectic in the final period with Kentucky taking a 15-14 lead to begin the fourth quarter. Vanderbilt would answer with a field goal before the Wildcats’ star running back Chris Rodriguez took a 72-yard rush to the house on the first play of the ensuing drive.

It was a story written a million times in Vanderbilt’s history – playing a team close before collapsing late. That looked to be the case on 4th & 11 at the UK 49-yard-line before Wright connected with wide receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. for 40 yards, setting up the go-ahead score three plays later.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Clark Lea’s emotions got the better of him in his postgame, not even trying to hide what the victory means for him and his program.

“You’ve got a bunch of guys that are fighting. And we’re building the program – and building a program is hard,” Lea said. “It takes tough people that are aligned, doing the right things the right way. That’s what these guys are doing, and I’m glad they got rewarded today.”

Vanderbilt improves to 4-6 on the season and maintains the potential for bowl eligibility if it were able to knock off Florida and Tennessee – both at home – in the coming weeks. That’s obviously easier said than done, but Vanderbilt didn’t let that stop them against Kentucky.