Skip Bayless was very active on X (formerly known as Twitter) as Vanderbilt shocked the world, defeating #1 Alabama 40-35 for the first time since 1984. The 1974 Commodores graduate was elated, to say the least. The Skip Bayless Twitter (X) account was buzzing with reactions as he tweeted from the second quarter through the post-game celebration.
The Vanderbilt win was historic in many ways, with no one giving them a chance. Alabama had just come off the biggest win of the college football season, defeating #2 Georgia the previous week, which propelled them to the top spot in the AP poll.
Nick Saban’s “Freezing Cold Take” Fuels Vanderbilt’s Upset
Just weeks before the game, former Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned on the Pat McAfee Show that playing at Vanderbilt was “not hard.” This comment turned into a classic “Freezing Cold Take” as Vanderbilt used it as motivation to pull off one of the biggest upsets in SEC history.
“The only place you play in the SEC that’s not hard to play in is Vanderbilt. When you play at Vanderbilt, you have more fans there than they have.”
– Nick Saban on @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/4V0LkKf35c
— Billy Derrick (@billyderrick10) September 20, 2024
Diego Pavia Shines in Historic Upset
At the heart of Vanderbilt’s victory was quarterback Diego Pavia, who delivered a standout performance that left Skip Bayless in awe. Pavia went 16/20 for 252 yards, throwing 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, while rushing 20 times for 56 yards. He perfectly controlled Vanderbilt’s wishbone-style offense, keeping Alabama’s defense on its heels.
This was a defining moment for Pavia, a senior QB who transferred from New Mexico State and is in his first year playing in the SEC. Skip Bayless couldn’t stop praising Pavia’s poise under pressure:
DIEGO PAVIA IS OUT OF HIS MIND IN HIS POSTGAME INTERVIEW — AND HE SHOULD BE!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 5, 2024
Pavia was instrumental in converting crucial third downs, a point Bayless eagerly emphasized:
THANKS TO DIEGO PAVIA, WE JUST WENT 12-18 ON THIRD DOWN AND CONTROLLED THE BALL 42 MINUTES TO 18 VS NO. 1 ALABAMA. IMPOSSIBLY GREAT. WHAT A LONG NIGHT ALL THOSE BAMA FANS ARE GOING TO HAVE IN NASHVILLE.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 6, 2024
Bayless, the former co-host of Undisputed on Fox and First Take on ESPN, now hosts a show on YouTube. However, he seemingly gets more reactions on X, with his top tweet during the game reaching close to 900K impressions.
Skip’s Live Reactions:
From the early moments of the game to the final whistle, Skip Bayless shared his emotions with his X audience. When Vanderbilt took a surprising early lead, he tweeted:
Vanderbilt 20, No. 1 Alabama 7 with 9:24 left in the second quarter. Long way to go. That is all I have to say at this time.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 5, 2024
As the game progressed, Skip’s excitement grew with every play, particularly praising Diego Pavia:
DIEGO PAVIA IS THE GREATEST THING TO HIT NASHVILLE SINCE JOHNNY CASH.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 6, 2024
Skip’s Final Thoughts:
Even hours after the game, Bayless continued to reflect on what had just happened, wishing he could have been in Nashville to witness the celebration firsthand.
I can’t tell you how much I wish I were in Nashville tonight. But it feels like I’ve heard from everyone IN Nashville.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 6, 2024
In what he called the greatest upset he’s ever rooted for, Skip Bayless’ reaction was not just about the game itself, but a long-time Vanderbilt fan savoring a win decades in the making. It was a night to remember for Commodore fans—and one that Skip won’t soon forget.
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