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COLUMBIA, SC ― Vanderbilt football ended its 16-game losing streak to South Carolina with its 31-7 win at Williams-Brice Stadium.
But that wasn’t the only impressive stat from the Commodores’ win on Sept. 13.
As quarterback Diego Pavia led Vanderbilt (3-0, 2-1 SEC), records grew, other streaks were snapped — with more possibly coming.
Here are seven of the most interesting numbers from the win against No. 10 South Carolina (2-1, 0-1):
First road win over top-15 team since Vanderbilt’s last win vs South Carolina
Vanderbilt has upset a few highly ranked teams at home in recent years, most notably Alabama in 2024, but this is the first time it has beaten a team ranked in the top 15 on the road since 2007 — its last win at South Carolina. The Gamecocks were No. 6 at the time.
Brock Taylor adds to field goal school record
In 2024, Brock Taylor made headlines by breaking the school record for field goals of 50-plus yards, with five. Not only did he break the career record, he did it all in one season.
He added to that record with a 51-yard field goal during the fourth quarter.
Vanderbilt’s leading receivers: Tre Richardson and Martel Hight
Tre Richardson, a transfer from Division II Washburn, looks like a budding star. He has flashed in every game and looks like the true No. 1 receiver Vanderbilt has needed. He caught four passes for 34 yards against South Carolina.
Martel Hight, who had four catches for 33 yards, is intriguing as well. He has been playing both ways this season, adding some offensive packages to his duties as cornerback and punt returner. But this was the first time he flashed significantly on offense. He’d previously caught three passes in two games combined.
When was Vanderbilt’s last win in an SEC opener?
Vanderbilt had lost 13 straight SEC openers, last winning one in 2011 when it beat Ole Miss. There have been occasional times that the Commodores have been over .500 since then, including in 2024, when they won their second and third SEC games after losing their opener.
Vanderbilt could have its highest ranking since the last year it beat South Carolina
Vanderbilt briefly was ranked in the polls in 2012, 2013 and 2024, but topped out at No. 23.
A win over a top-15 South Carolina team on the road, even though the Gamecocks didn’t have quarterback LaNorris Sellers for half of the game, plus a 3-0 start, could very well get the Commodores a higher ranking than that.
In 2008, the last year Vanderbilt defeated the Gamecocks, it was ranked as high as No. 13 after a win over Auburn. It is unlikely that this win vaults the Commodores that high, but if they do find their way higher than 13th, it would be the first time since 1948.
Vanderbilt could snap its second-longest SEC losing streak this season
Vanderbilt’s 16 straight losses to South Carolina were its most against any SEC opponent. Not anymore.
That mantel is now held by LSU, which has beaten the Commodores 10 games in a row since 1991.
Vanderbilt faces LSU at FirstBank Stadium on Oct. 18.
Vanderbilt hasn’t allowed a second-half touchdown this season
Vanderbilt has two straight second-half shutouts, not allowing a point to Virginia Tech or South Carolina after halftime.
The Commodores’ backups did allow a late field goal to Charleston Southern in the season opener, but they have not allowed a touchdown in the second half of any game this season.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
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