NASHVILLE, Tennessee. — Diego Pavia threw for a career-high 484 yards and five touchdowns as No. 12 Vanderbilt beat Kentucky. 45-17 Saturday as the Commodores kept their hopes of a College Football Playoff berth alive heading into the regular season finale.
“This should have been a huge win for us,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lee said.
Pavia, who struck another Heisman Trophy pose while celebrating with teammates, set a program record by surpassing Whit Taylor's 1981 mark at Tennessee by 464 yards. Pavia also ran for another 48 yards for the sixth score.
“He's the best player in the country and deserves to be in the Heisman conversation,” Lea said of Pavia. “He tilts the pitch when he steps on it. There are only a few players in the world who, when you have the ball in your hands, can take control of the game, and here he has done it many times.”
Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2, No. 14 CFP) has its most wins since 2013, when nine wins required a bowl win. This is just the Commodores' fifth nine-win season, and they enter the regular season finale needing a win in the first 10-win season in program history.
The Commodores also took Vanderbilt to a 7-0 record in Vanderbilt's first undefeated home game since 1982 and only the fourth since 1945.
Tree Richardson had six catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
Martel Height had two of three interceptions as Vanderbilt won for the third time in four games in the series.
Kentucky (5-6, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) had its three-game winning streak snapped. Coach Mark Stoops called the loss disheartening and praised Vanderbilt.
“They’re a very good football team all around,” Stoops said. “A very physical team that definitely deserves to make the playoffs with a quarterback who is something else, that’s for sure.”
Pavia, who went through the Senior Day pregame ceremony, made sure Vanderbilt never trailed. He was on the field for the series that began with 9:39 left, then walked to the sideline for a hug as fans chanted his name after his big play.
He hit Richardson in stride for a 71-yard touchdown for a 10-0 lead early in the second, his longest pass in his two seasons at Vanderbilt. He helped Vanderbilt score 21 points in the second and third quarters.
“I feel like I’m the best player in college football right now,” Pavia said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
