Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia does something against Kentucky not seen since Peyton Manning

Diego Pavia delivered the most prolific passing performance in Vanderbilt history, throwing for a career-high 484 yards and five touchdowns as No. 14 Vanderbilt rolled past Kentucky 45-17 on Saturday. The victory kept the Commodores' College Football Playoff hopes alive entering the regular-season finale.

Pavia’s outing marked the most passing yards by an SEC quarterback against Kentucky since Peyton Manning threw for 523 yards for Tennessee in 1997.

It also broke Vanderbilt’s single-game record, surpassing the 464 yards Whit Taylor posted against Tennessee in 1981. Pavia added 48 rushing yards and another score, striking a Heisman pose with teammates after one of his six total touchdowns.

“This needed to be a statement win for us,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “Diego set the tone from the first drive.”

Vanderbilt (9-2, 5-2 SEC) secured its most wins in a regular season since 2013 and posted just its fifth nine-win campaign in program history.

The Commodores also completed a 7-0 home slate, their first undefeated season at home since 1982 and only their fourth since 1945. With one game remaining, Vanderbilt now sits one victory away from the first 10-win season in school history.

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