NASHVILLE, Tenn. >> Diego Pavia threw for 160 yards and a score and ran for 86 yards and two more touchdowns as No. 17 Vanderbilt beat 10th-ranked LSU 31-24 on Saturday to improve to 6-1 for the first time in 75 years.

Vanderbilt, which matched its best start since opening 6-1 in 1950, beat LSU for the first time since 1990.

This was only the fourth meeting since 1947 with both schools ranked in the AP poll. The Commodores also snapped a 10-game skid to LSU.

Even better, Vanderbilt (2-1 Southeastern Conference) is bowl eligible in what used to be the top goal for this program.

“Ultimately we have a lot of season left, and we’re going to celebrate this win,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “I think we’ve earned the right to celebrate it. But this game won’t define our season. And there’s a lot more for this team to accomplish.”

The Tigers (5-2, 2-2) had some big plays with Garrett Nussmeier throwing for 225 yards and two TDs, including a 62-yarder to Zavion Thomas. Caden Durham also had a 51-yard run down to the Vandy 2 before the Commodores forced LSU to settle for one of four field-goal attempts.

“We had opportunities, we didn’t cash in on them,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said.