A year after Vanderbilt shocked the college football world with a stunning upset that snapped the Crimson Tide’s four-decade unbeaten streak against them, Kalen DeBoer’s squad made sure history didn’t repeat itself. The Crimson Tide was able to come away with points on each of its first four trips, clinching a dominant 30-14 win. However, the anticipation of this game had been building for a long time. Even before the first snap, Diego Pavia playfully mocked what looked like a post-game celebration. But this time, it wasn’t only Pavia who stirred up the crowd in Tuscaloosa. On the Vanderbilt side stood Bama’s age-old foe, Johnny Manziel, who handed Alabama one of its most painful upsets in 2012.

Manziel was seen sporting a No. 10 jersey in support of Pavia, and that was enough to add fuel to the fire. As the game wore on, tension flared. And in the final minutes, Manziel did the unthinkable. He fired both middle fingers toward sections of Alabama, setting the stadium ablaze. Naturally, that didn’t go unnoticed by the Tide faithful. The loyal fans of Bama responded by showering him with curses and boos. The Heisman winner finally broke the silence about the fans’ attack.

“Those fans started to come down to that field area and rip me apart,” Johnny Manziel said on Nightcap. “There ain’t nothing you can say to me. I’m sitting here supporting my boy. By the way, I already did what I needed to do in this stadium. I already got something that’s at my grandma’s house for the rest of my life.” He remembered the fans on what happened in 2012, where Johnny Football’s Texas A&M defeated Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide by 29-24, which earned him the Heisman trophy that season. “So, I’m good… I’m chilling.” Mocking those rude fans, Manziel said, “They love me out here. Except for you, little fat punks. We’re good.”

Talking about wearing a Diego Pavia jersey, Manziel said, “That is my Dawg. This is my guy, a guy I talked to weekly, and I’m pulling for him.” Diego Pavia against Alabama completed 21 of 36, passing 198 yards and 1 TD, and had two interceptions. He believed that Pavia played great, from the offensive play-calling standpoint, with little fake run. “This doesn’t change anything for Vandy.” They can take a loss like that in the SEC, especially on the road.

What’s Next for Alabama and Vanderbilt?

Alabama, after an avenging win over Vanderbilt, moved a rank up from 11th to 10th position in the AP poll rankings with a 4-1 record. They will be visiting the No.19 Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field next Saturday on October 11. Missouri, on the other hand, dominated the first four games, with an undefeated 5-0 winning streak. This is an important SEC match-up, as both programs are still active in the playoff contention. Alabama opened the odds as a 5.5-point favorite vs Missouri, as per FanDuel. 

On the other hand, Vanderbilt, after their first loss this season, will go on a bye week to fix things up. After that, they will be hosting the No.13 LSU Tigers at the FirstBank Stadium on October 18. The Tigers will be playing SCU the coming week, before they visit Vanderbilt. 

Ty Simpson has been a game-changer for Alabama this season, single-handedly dominating the offensive play. He is on the prime this season, being a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy. Diego Pavia is the key player for Vanderbilt, showcasing his consistency in every game he plays. If both continue to dominate the offensive play like this, it will be no wonder that both programs will keep the playoff contention hard.