Alabama Crimson Tide Football vs Vanderbilt Football Match Player Stats: Detailed Analysis and Breakdown

Statistical dynamics between Alabama Crimson Tide and Vanderbilt football have undergone a dramatic shift in recent seasons. Traditionally a lopsided rivalry, the data from the 2024 and 2025 matchups reveal a highly competitive environment where individual player performances often dictate the outcome. Analyzing these statistics provides a clear picture of how Alabama attempted to re-establish dominance after a historic upset, and how Vanderbilt's strategic use of specific personnel created unique challenges for the Tide.

Passing statistics and quarterback efficiency

In the most recent meeting in October 2025, the passing game was the primary engine for the Alabama offense. Ty Simpson took the lead, completing 23 of 31 pass attempts for a total of 340 yards. This 74% completion rate was accompanied by two touchdowns and one interception. Simpson’s ability to stretch the field was evident in his average of 14.8 yards per completion, with a long pass of 54 yards. Despite being sacked four times for a loss of 27 yards, his pocket presence allowed Alabama to maintain a consistent aerial threat.

Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia offered a different statistical profile. In the 2025 matchup, Pavia completed 21 of 35 passes for 198 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. While his passing yardage was lower than Simpson's, his role was focused on ball security and clock management. This followed his legendary 2024 performance where he recorded 252 passing yards and two touchdowns with an 80% completion rate (16 of 20), outperforming Jalen Milroe in pure efficiency metrics during that historic victory.

Comparing the two seasons, the 2024 statistics highlighted Jalen Milroe’s dual-threat capability. Milroe passed for 312 yards (19 of 25) but suffered from a crucial interception returned for a touchdown. The 2025 data suggests a shift toward a more traditional pocket-passing approach for Alabama, which yielded more yardage but required better offensive line protection to mitigate the four sacks surrendered to the Vanderbilt defense.

Rushing attack and ground game metrics

Ground production has been the deciding factor in the scoring summaries of these two programs. In 2025, Alabama’s Jamarion Miller was the workhorse, recording 22 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown. His average of 6.2 yards per carry provided the necessary balance to the passing attack. Miller’s ability to find the end zone late in the fourth quarter (a 20-yard rush) served as the final insurance for the Tide's 30-14 victory.

Vanderbilt’s rushing attack in 2025 relied heavily on Sedrick Alexander, who managed 76 yards on just 4 carries, largely bolstered by a massive 65-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Diego Pavia added 58 net rushing yards on 12 carries, though sacks significantly reduced his gross total.

Looking back at the 2024 match, the rushing statistics tell the story of Vanderbilt’s upset. The Commodores outgained Alabama on the ground 166-84. Sedrick Alexander recorded two rushing touchdowns in that game, while Alabama’s Jam Miller also scored twice but on limited volume (5 carries for 45 yards). The disparity in rushing attempts—54 for Vanderbilt versus 21 for Alabama in 2024—illustrates how the ground game was used to manipulate the clock and limit Alabama’s offensive possessions.

Receiving leaders and yardage distribution

Ryan Williams has emerged as a consistent statistical outlier for Alabama in these matchups. In 2025, he recorded 6 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown, including a 54-yard explosive play. His ability to generate yards after catch (YAC) was critical, contributing 30 yards of his total from pure individual effort after the grab. Germie Bernard followed closely with 5 receptions for 82 yards and a score, maintaining a perfect 100% catch rate on his targets.

Vanderbilt’s 2025 receiving stats were led by Junior Sherrill, who saw 10 targets, catching 6 for 49 yards. Richie Hoskins and Eli Stowers were also involved, though the average depth of target was noticeably shorter for the Commodores compared to the Tide. In the 2024 upset, Eli Stowers was the dominant force with 113 receiving yards on 6 catches, proving that the Vanderbilt tight end position is a frequent mismatch for Alabama’s defensive secondary.

Detailed receiving stats for the 2025 game:

• Alabama:
  • Ryan Williams: 6 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD, 54 Long
  • Germie Bernard: 5 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD, 27 Long
  • Isaiah Horton: 4 catches, 66 yards, 35 Long
  • Josh Cuevas: 3 catches, 35 yards, 18 Long
• Vanderbilt:
  • Junior Sherrill: 6 catches, 49 yards, 15 Long
  • Richie Hoskins: 3 catches, 37 yards, 15 Long
  • Cole Spence: 2 catches, 45 yards, 33 Long
  • Sedrick Alexander: 3 catches, 22 yards, 1 TD

Defensive impact and turnover analysis

The defensive statistics show a high level of volatility. In 2025, Alabama’s Justin Jefferson led all players with 14 total tackles (9 solo, 5 assisted), including one sack and a forced fumble. This defensive pressure was a significant upgrade from the 2024 performance where Alabama struggled to get off the field. In 2025, Alabama recorded only one interception (by Keon Sabb) but limited Vanderbilt to just 135 net rushing yards, a sharp improvement from the previous year.

Vanderbilt’s defense in 2025 was led by CJ Heard and Bryan Longwell, both recording 8 tackles. The unit was particularly effective in pass rushing, accumulating 4 sacks on Ty Simpson. Zaylin Wood, Khordae Sydnor, Joshua Singh, and Miles Capers each contributed to the sack total, demonstrating a coordinated effort to disrupt Alabama’s rhythm.

In the 2024 matchup, the defensive standout was Vanderbilt’s Randon Fontenette, who recorded a 24-yard pick-six that set the tone for the game. Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell had 12 tackles in that losing effort, but the unit failed to register a single sack on Diego Pavia, which allowed him to execute the game plan with surgical precision.

Special teams and kicking performance

Special teams often go overlooked but were vital in the 2025 outcome. Alabama’s Conor Talty was a standout performer, converting 3 of 4 field goal attempts, including successful kicks from 38, 30, and 30 yards. His accuracy provided the scoring buffer that Vanderbilt could not overcome. Alabama also dominated the kickoff game, with Talty recording 6 touchbacks on 7 kickoffs, effectively neutralizing Vanderbilt’s return game.

In 2024, Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor was the hero in the kicking game, hitting a 51-yard field goal and a 33-yarder. The ability to convert long-distance field goals was a major psychological and mathematical advantage for the unranked Commodores during their victory over the then-No. 1 ranked Tide.

Team-wide efficiency and game flow metrics

To understand the player stats, one must look at the efficiency metrics of the entire unit. In the 2025 match, Alabama held a clear advantage in first downs (25 to 16) and total offensive yards (486 to 333). Crucially, the time of possession flipped back in Alabama’s favor, with the Tide holding the ball for 37:23 compared to Vanderbilt’s 22:37.

This is a stark contrast to the 2024 game flow where Vanderbilt controlled the clock for a staggering 42:08. The correlation between time of possession and the final score in this specific matchup is nearly 1:1. When Vanderbilt is able to keep the Alabama offense on the sideline, they win; when Alabama’s defense forces stops and allows the offense to sustain long drives (as seen in the 16-play, 8-minute drive in the 4th quarter of 2025), Alabama secures the victory.

2025 Third-Down Conversions:

• Alabama: 7 of 15 (46.7%)
• Vanderbilt: 5 of 11 (45.4%)

2024 Third-Down Conversions:

• Alabama: 3 of 7 (42.8%)
• Vanderbilt: 12 of 18 (66.7%)

The jump in Vanderbilt’s 3rd down conversion rate in 2024 was the statistical anomaly that allowed them to sustain drives and exhaust the Tide's defense. The 2025 data shows a reversion to the mean, with both teams performing at a similar level on high-leverage downs.

Red zone and turnover points

In 2025, Alabama was perfect in the red zone, scoring on 5 of 5 chances (2 touchdowns and 3 field goals). Vanderbilt, however, struggled, scoring on only 1 of 3 red zone appearances. This inability to capitalize on deep drives prevented the Commodores from keeping the game within one possession during the second half.

Points off turnovers were also significant. In 2025, Alabama scored 10 points following Vanderbilt turnovers, while Vanderbilt managed 7 points from Alabama's lone interception. In the 2024 game, 13 of Vanderbilt's 40 points came directly off Jalen Milroe’s two turnovers, illustrating how heavily these matches swing based on a handful of plays.

Comparative Player Stats Table (2025 Matchup)

Contextualizing the stats for the rivalry

The statistical history between these two teams shows that while Alabama typically holds the advantage in talent-based metrics (average yards per play, passing efficiency), Vanderbilt has found success through volume-based metrics (rushing attempts, time of possession, third-down conversions).

In the 2024 game, Vanderbilt’s average gain per play was 5.4 yards, which is respectable but not elite. However, because they ran 75 plays and forced Alabama into mistakes, they were able to score 40 points. In 2025, Alabama’s average gain per play rose to 7.0 yards, and they limited Vanderbilt’s total plays to just 54. By reducing the volume of opportunities for Vanderbilt to stay on schedule, Alabama’s superior per-play efficiency was able to shine through in the final score.

The 2025 game also showed a more disciplined Alabama team. They committed only 3 penalties for 30 yards, whereas in the 2024 loss, they were flagged 6 times for 57 yards at critical moments. These minor statistical shifts—fewer penalties, better red zone defense, and improved time of possession—represent the structural changes that led to a 16-point swing in the point differential between the two seasons.

Ultimately, the player stats from the Alabama vs. Vanderbilt match highlight a rivalry that is no longer a guaranteed blowout. Whether it is Diego Pavia’s efficiency under pressure or Ryan Williams’ explosive playmaking ability, the numbers suggest that technical execution on 3rd downs and red zone efficiency remain the most critical data points for anyone analyzing this SEC matchup.