Vanderbilt stuns No. 1 Alabama in historic victory

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Vanderbilt linebacker Randon Fontenette (2) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half of Saturday’s game against Alabama in Nashville, Tenn. GEORGE WALKER IV — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. >> Sedrick Alexander ran for two touchdowns, Randon Fontenette scored on a pick-six and Diego Pavia outplayed Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Milroe as Vanderbilt stunned Alabama 40-35 on Saturday for the Commodores’ first win over the nation’s top-ranked team.

Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) had lost all 60 games against AP top-five teams, according to SportRadar. The Commodores hadn’t beaten Alabama on the field in 40 years, but they snapped a 23-game skid making big play after big play to give coach Clark Lea his alma mater’s biggest win ever.

The Commodores scored the first 13 points and took a 16-point lead that was their largest ever over the No. 1 team in the country. Only Jam Miller running for his second TD just before halftime trimmed that to 23-14.

Alabama had just moved to the top of the AP Top 25 after an emotional win over Georgia.

Alexander capped the game’s opening drive with a 7-yard TD to put Vandy ahead to stay. It marked the first time since 2007 that Vandy had opened a game against Alabama with a TD — Nick Saban’s second game as coach.

The Tide (4-1, 1-1) helped Vanderbilt pad that lead with too many mistakes, sloppy play and penalties.

No. 25 Texas A&M 41, No. 9 Missouri 10 >> Le’Veon Moss ran for a career-high 138 yards with three touchdowns and No. 25 Texas A&M handed ninth-ranked Missouri its first loss.

No. 3 Ohio State 35, Iowa 7 >> Emeka Egbuka caught three touchdown passes and Jeremiah Smith made another one-handed grab for a score as Ohio State sputtered early before burying Iowa.

No. 5 Georgia 31, Auburn 13 >> Trevor Etienne ran for two touchdowns as Georgia bounced back from its first regular-season loss in almost four years with a workmanlike victory over struggling Auburn.

No. 7 PENN ST. 27, UCLA 11 >> Drew Allar threw for 237 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score to lead the Nittany Lions over the Bruins.

No. 12 Ole Miss 27, South Carolina 3 >> J.J. Pegues, a 325-pound nose tackle, ran for two short touchdowns as Mississippi bounced back from its first loss of the season to beat South Carolina and give coach Lane Kiffin his 100th career victory.

SMU 34, No. 22 LOUISVILLE 27 >> Kevin Jennings passed for a career-high 281 yards, Isaiah Nwokobia intercepted an end-zone pass with 2:23 left to seal it, and the Mustangs overcame blowing a double-digit lead to beat the Cardinals.