No. 3 Alabama Beats Vanderbilt 21-6 as Keelon Russell Throws Three Touchdowns

No. 3 Alabama beat Vanderbilt 21-6 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, as quarterback Keelon Russell played through an ankle injury and threw three touchdown passes. The Alabama Vanderbilt 21-6 result kept the Crimson Tide firmly in the College Football Playoff race, with a defence that held Vanderbilt without a touchdown for the first time all season.

Key Points

• No. 3 Alabama beat Vanderbilt 21-6 on Saturday in Nashville, improving to 8-2 overall and 6-2 in the SEC.
• Keelon Russell, expected to sit out with an ankle injury, started and threw three touchdown passes, completing 22 of 33 passes for 217 yards.
• Lotzeir Brooks caught five passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns; Daniel Hill rushed for 89 yards.
• Alabama's defence had five sacks and nine tackles for loss, holding Vanderbilt to a season-low 235 total yards.
• Vanderbilt fell to 4-6 and 1-6 in the SEC, having lost six of its past seven games.

What Happened

The game was a slow, grinding affair for most of the first half. Alabama led only 7-3 at the break, with Vanderbilt's defence holding the Crimson Tide in check. Russell, named the starter just before kickoff after practising sparingly during the week, looked rusty at times, but he kept Alabama ahead.

The third quarter changed everything. Alabama scored 14 points, starting with a 39-yard catch-and-run touchdown to Brooks, who entered the game with only one touchdown catch all season. Then, after Dijon Lee Jr. returned a kickoff 83 yards, Russell found Brooks again for a 9-yard touchdown, and the 21-6 lead was never threatened. Brooks finished with five catches for 62 yards.

Alabama's defence finished the job, recording a season-high-tying five sacks and nine tackles for loss. Vanderbilt managed only 235 total yards, its lowest output of the year, and never found the end zone despite moving the ball between the 20s. Hill's 89 rushing yards kept the clock moving as Alabama closed the game out.

Background and Context

The build-up was dominated by Russell's ankle. ESPN reported on Friday that he would sit out, and he had practised only sparingly all week. His late call-up, announced just before kickoff, set the tone for a performance built on toughness as much as talent.

Alabama arrived in Nashville ranked No. 3 and riding a three-game winning streak, during which Russell has thrown nine touchdown passes with only two interceptions. Read our report on Alabama storming back to beat LSU 31-13 in Baton Rouge, the win that started the streak.

Vanderbilt had lost five of its previous six games, and Saturday's defeat made it six of seven. Jared Curtis completed 25 of 40 passes for 223 yards, and Junior Sherrill caught seven passes for 100 yards, but 14 penalties for 92 yards killed drives.

Alabama Vanderbilt 21-6: Russell's Grit and a Dominant Defence

Russell's numbers tell the story of a quarterback who was not at full strength but still delivered when it mattered. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 217 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, and his best work came in the third quarter, when Alabama needed separation. His nine touchdowns against two interceptions during the winning streak show a player peaking at the right time.

Daniel Hill rushed for 89 yards, keeping the chains moving, but the defence was the real star: five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and a season-low 235 yards allowed. Vanderbilt had scored in every game this season until Saturday. For a team with playoff ambitions, that kind of defensive performance on the road is exactly what the selection committee wants to see, and the win also keeps Alabama on course in the SEC title race.

Reactions and Quotes

The loudest reaction came from the Alabama sideline when Russell was confirmed as the starter. A quarterback who had barely practised all week, and who was reported on Friday as unlikely to play, took the field and threw three touchdown passes. It was the kind of performance that defines a season, and it answered the biggest question hanging over the team before kickoff.

The defence's response was just as emphatic. After a first half in which Vanderbilt stayed in the game, the Crimson Tide's front seven took over, sacking Curtis five times and living in the Commodores' backfield. Lee's 83-yard kickoff return added the special-teams spark, and the third quarter turned a tense 7-3 game into a comfortable win.

For Vanderbilt, the reaction was frustration. Fourteen penalties for 92 yards killed drives, and a team that moved the ball well enough between the 20s could not finish. The Commodores have now lost six of seven, and a season that started with promise is slipping away with two games left.

Why It Matters

Style points matter in the College Football Playoff race, and Alabama earned an important kind of them: a road win with a banged-up quarterback and a defence that shut an opponent out of the end zone. The committee watches how teams win as well as whether they win.

It also matters for Russell's standing. Playing through an ankle injury and throwing three touchdowns strengthens his case as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Read our report on Notre Dame routing Boston College 41-7 in South Bend, another top-three team that impressed on Saturday. For Vanderbilt, the path to bowl eligibility is now narrow, and a team that has lost six of seven must win out.

What Happens Next

Alabama hosts Chattanooga next Saturday, a game the Crimson Tide will be expected to win comfortably. With the playoff race tightening, every win matters, and a healthy Russell would make the task far easier.

Vanderbilt visits Florida next Saturday, a tough road trip for a team that has lost six of seven. The Commodores need a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, and they will need to be far more disciplined than the 14-penalty performance they produced against Alabama.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Alabama vs Vanderbilt? No. 3 Alabama beat Vanderbilt 21-6 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. Alabama led 7-3 at half-time before scoring 14 points in the third quarter.

How did Keelon Russell play with his ankle injury? Russell was named the starter just before kickoff after practising sparingly during the week. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 217 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception.

Who scored for Alabama? Lotzeir Brooks caught two touchdown passes, a 39-yard catch-and-run and a 9-yard score. Daniel Hill rushed for 89 yards, and Dijon Lee Jr. set up a touchdown with an 83-yard kickoff return.

How did Alabama's defence perform? Alabama held Vanderbilt without a touchdown for the first time this season, with five sacks and nine tackles for loss, holding the Commodores to a season-low 235 total yards.

What is next for Alabama and Vanderbilt? Alabama hosts Chattanooga next Saturday, while Vanderbilt visits Florida. Alabama is 8-2 and 6-2 in the SEC; Vanderbilt is 4-6 and 1-6 in the SEC.