No. 11 Vanderbilt Falls 34-31 to No. 19 Texas After Defensive Struggles

Vanderbilt's football team suffered a close 34-31 loss to Texas, with missed tackles and defensive lapses early in the game setting a difficult tone. Texas quarterback Arch Manning threw for 328 yards, capitalizing on screen passes and Vanderbilt's defensive mistakes, particularly by safety CJ Heard. Vanderbilt's quarterback Diego Pavia had a strong performance with 365 passing yards and a rushing touchdown, nearly leading a fourth-quarter comeback that fell just short after an unsuccessful onside kick recovery. Despite being ranked No. 9 entering the game, Vanderbilt struggled to contain Texas, who was favored by 3.5 points and improved their record to 8-2. Texas faced the game without star safety Michael Taaffe, who missed the matchup due to a thumb injury but remains a key defensive player for the Longhorns. Vanderbilt now looks to rebound in their upcoming game against Auburn while Texas prepares for a challenging road game against No. 5 Georgia.