ATLANTA – The Vanderbilt football team suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, losing 32-36 on the road to Georgia State.
Vanderbilt (2-1) was eliminated in Atlanta in its first 3-0 season start since 2017. Georgia State (2-1) led for most of the game, but the Commodores started back, only to give up the lead in the final seconds.
After trailing by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter, Vanderbilt came back with two quick touchdowns, the second of which gave the Commodores their first lead of the game. A two-point passing conversion was good, putting Vanderbilt ahead by three points with just over a minute left.
But on the ensuing drive, Georgia State also stormed down the field quickly and scored a touchdown with 15 seconds left, with four passes of 10 yards or more during the drive, giving the Panthers a four-point lead.
Watch Vanderbilt vs Georgia State football game live on ESPN+
Score updates for Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State
Fourth quarter
Georgia State made several quick plays, culminating in Ted Hurst beating Kolbey Taylor for a touchdown with 15 seconds left.
With just over two minutes left in the game and no timeouts, Vanderbilt forced a punt and lined up at Georgia State’s 39-yard line. From there, the Commodores scored a quick touchdown, capped by Alexander’s rush and a good two-point conversion pass to AJ Newberry.
Vanderbilt got back into the game with a quick touchdown drive that lasted less than 2.5 minutes and was capped by Newberry’s rushing touchdown.
Veilleux ran at a quarterback keeper and scored the touchdown after a targeted attack penalty on CJ Taylor extended the drive and caused Taylor’s ejection.
On third and 16 at the 18-yard line, Pavia found Eli Stowers, who broke through several tackles and scored the touchdown.
Third quarter
Vanderbilt had a drive stall and had to punt, but on the Panthers’ first play after the punt, Bryan Longwell intercepted a ball, giving the Commodores a plus position.
Georgia State receiver Dorian Fleming athletically caught the touchdown in the end zone, a decision that stood after reconsideration.
Georgia State drove to the Vanderbilt 27-yard line before the drive stalled and Rickman attempted his third field goal of the game and fired the ball through.
Second quarter
After a 53-yard pass to AJ Newberry earlier in the drive, Pavia found Junior Sherrill completely free in the end zone after fighting his way through for a touchdown.
Georgia State drove to the Commodores’ 27-yard line and originally lined up for a 4th-and-9 attempt, but after Vanderbilt called a timeout, the Panthers opted to kick instead and missed the ball wide left.
Sannieniola, not Junior Sherrill, was back to receive Georgia State’s kickoff, and the play ended in disaster as Sannieniola fumbled the kick in the end zone, then picked it up when the ball was just outside the end zone and dropped to his knees, resulting in a safety, a call that stood after a replay review.
Georgia State 10, Vanderbilt 3: 33-yard touchdown pass from Christian Veilleux
After Linus Zunk assessed a penalty for excessive force on the passer, which extended the drive, Ted Hurst hit Tyson Russell for the touchdown.
Vanderbilt attempted a 4th-and-1 at the Panthers’ 27 that was initially ruled short at the end of the first quarter, but the decision was overturned after review. The drive later stalled and Taylor kicked the chip shot.
First quarter
Georgia State had a short field when Diego Pavia was sacked and dropped the ball, putting the Panthers in position at the 20-yard line. The Commodores forced the field goal.
Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State today
- Date: 14 September
- Time: 6pm CT
- Location: Center Parc Stadium
What channel is the Vanderbilt vs Georgia State game on tonight?
- Streaming: ESPN+
- Radio: 102.5 The Game and the Vanderbilt Athletics App
Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State will be broadcast on ESPN+.
History of Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State
Vanderbilt has never played against Georgia State.
Predictions for Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State
The potential bad weather could mess up the game, but Vanderbilt is still a better team than Georgia State, which narrowly defeated Chattanooga, leading the Commodores to a 33-14 victory.
Betting Odds for Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State
BetMGM’s lines and odds for Saturday:
- Spread: Vanderbilt-10.5
- Over/Under: 44
- Money line: Vanderbilt-110
Injury updates for Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State
Vanderbilt will be without CB Mark Davis (Achilles) and OT CJ Williams (broken ankle), both of whom are out for the remainder of the season. TE Brycen Coleman (collarbone), LB/S Maurice Hampton (hamstring) and OL Grayson Morgan (back) are also out.
DL Khordae Sydnor (ankle) and EDGE BJ Diakite (unknown) both made the trip but were not dressed during warm-ups.
Weather update for Vanderbilt vs. Georgia State
The high temperatures forecast for Saturday in Atlanta are 24 degrees. There is a 35 percent chance of rain at kickoff.
Vanderbilt football team schedule 2024
31 August: Virginia Tech, 34-27 win (OT)
7 September: Alcorn State, 55-0 win
14 September: at Georgia State
21 September: in Missouri
28 September: Open
October 5: Alabama
October 12: in Kentucky
October 19: Ball State
October 26: Texas
2 November: in Auburn
9 November: South Carolina
16 November: Open
23 November: at LSU
30 November: Tennessee
Buy Vanderbilt football tickets this season at StubHub
Georgia State Football Schedule 2024
31 August: Georgia Tech, 35-12 loss
7 September: Chattanooga, 24-21 win
14 September: Vanderbilt
21 September: Open
28 September: South Georgia
October 5: Open
October 12: Old Dominion
October 17: at Marshall
October 26: at Appalachian State
November 1: at UConn
9 November: at James Madison
16 November: State of Arkansas
23 November: at Texas State
30 November: Carolina Coast
Vanderbilt Football News
- Cornerback Kolbey Taylor is expected to return to the team after missing the game against Alcorn State due to an internal matter.
- Vanderbilt will wear all-white uniforms, including helmets.
We occasionally recommend products and services of interest. If you make a purchase through one of the links, we may receive an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this does not influence our reporting.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected] or via X, formerly Twitter. @aria_gerson.
