Everyone thought they knew how this was going to go. A top-five Texas team walks into Nashville, handles business, and heads home. But if you actually watched the Texas vs Vanderbilt score ticker crawl toward the finish line on October 26, 2024, you know it was anything but easy.
Texas won. That’s the short version. The long version involves a 27-24 nail-biter that left Longhorns fans holding their breath until the final onside kick rolled out of bounds. It wasn't just a game; it was a reality check for a Texas team trying to find its footing in the SEC.
The Final Score and Why It Felt Closer Than It Was
The scoreboard at FirstBank Stadium read Texas 27, Vanderbilt 24.
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On paper, Texas led for almost the entire game. After an early 18-yard touchdown run by Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia—who, honestly, is one of the shiftiest quarterbacks in the country—Texas went on a 21-3 run. Quinn Ewers looked like he had found his rhythm, completing 17 straight passes at one point. He finished with 288 yards and three touchdowns.
But football is a game of mistakes. Texas had plenty. They turned the ball over. They committed penalties at the worst possible moments.
Breaking Down the Scoring
- 1st Quarter: Vandy strikes first with a Pavia run. Texas answers with two Quinn Ewers TD passes (Matthew Golden and DeAndre Moore Jr.). Score: 14-7 Texas.
- 2nd Quarter: DeAndre Moore Jr. catches another one. Vandy sneaks in a massive 54-yard field goal as time expires. Score: 21-10 Texas.
- 3rd Quarter: A Bert Auburn field goal puts Texas up 24-10. Vandy answers with a Junior Sherrill TD catch. Score: 24-17 Texas.
- 4th Quarter: Texas adds a short field goal. Vandy scores with 46 seconds left to make it 27-24.
Texas recovered the onside kick. Game over. Barely.
The Diego Pavia Factor
You cannot talk about the Texas vs Vanderbilt score without talking about Diego Pavia. The guy is a nightmare for defensive coordinators. He isn't the biggest or the fastest, but he’s basically a magician in the backfield. He accounted for three touchdowns and kept the Commodores in it when they had no business being there.
Vanderbilt was a 17-point underdog. Most people expected a blowout. Instead, Clark Lea has built a "culture" win kind of team. They don't quit. Even when Texas was moving the ball at will in the first half, Vandy stayed within striking distance.
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Why Texas Fans Were Frustrated
If you check the Reddit threads or the message boards, Longhorn Nation wasn't exactly celebrating a "dominant" win. They were relieved. Texas had 392 total yards compared to Vanderbilt’s 269. They had the better athletes.
The problem? Two turnovers and a staggering number of penalties.
Every time Texas seemed ready to put the game away, a yellow flag would fly. Or a tipped pass would end up in the hands of a Vanderbilt defender. It was the kind of game that makes coaches lose sleep. Steve Sarkisian called it a "culture" win after the game, mostly because his team had to show some grit to survive a late-game surge in a hostile, albeit small, stadium.
Looking Back from 2026: The Rivalry That Grew
Fast forward to where we are now in 2026. Looking back, that 2024 matchup was the spark. We saw these two meet again in November 2025, where Texas again narrowly escaped with a 34-31 win.
It's weird to think about, but Vanderbilt has become a genuine "trap game" for the heavyweights of the SEC. They proved it against Alabama in 2024, and they nearly did it to Texas.
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Just this week, on Wednesday night, January 14, 2026, the two schools met on the hardwood. Texas took down No. 10 Vanderbilt 80-64 in basketball, finally giving Longhorn fans a win over the Dores that didn't require a heart monitor. Matas Vokietaitis was a beast in that game with 22 points.
Key Takeaways for the Future
- Never bet against the spread with Vandy: They cover. Often.
- Quinn Ewers' Legacy: That 17-completion streak in 2024 was a career highlight, even if the final score was closer than he wanted.
- The SEC is Deep: There are no "off" weeks. If you don't show up, a team like Vanderbilt will make you pay.
If you’re looking for the Texas vs Vanderbilt score from the most recent football clash, remember that 27-24 was the score that set the tone for this new-age SEC rivalry. It proved that Texas can win ugly, and that Vanderbilt isn't a doormat anymore.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the upcoming SEC schedule to see when the next rematch is set. If you're a betting person, pay close attention to the turnover margin for Texas; it's been the deciding factor in every game against Vanderbilt since they joined the conference. For those following the 2026 basketball season, keep an eye on Tramon Mark and Matas Vokietaitis as they lead Texas toward the tournament.