Vanderbilt 31, Kentucky 24. Of this year's quasi-revivals among some of the most inept, long-suffering programs in the country, for the most part, nothing really changed. Baylor and Duke were more competitive, certainly, and looked like competent programs under first-year coaches. But the Bears are already assured of another losing record, despite their pantsing of Texas A&M this afternoon, and unless Duke pulls off back-to-back shocker s over Virginia Tech and North Carolina, it's just another last place season for the Devils, complete with seven straight conference losses to close the year.

But as Bob Davie said in the closing seconds, Vanderbilt's first .500 season -- almost certainly including its first bowl bid since 1982 -- is like a refrigerator off the Commodores' backs. A huge, industrial-sized, meat-packing refrigerator stuffed with the bodies of Watson Brown, Gerry DiNardo, Ron Dowhower and Woody Widenhofer, among others. Even the relatively beatified Jay Cutler fell short with losses to Middle Tennessee and a rock-bottom Kentucky outfit in 2005, the gold standard season for how quickly and thoroughly everything can collapse, and for demonstrating how staunchly the stars (recruiting and otherwise) were aligned against the Dores, no matter the circumstances.

Bobby Johnson has broken through with wins over Steve Spurrier and Tommy Tuberville in the same season, with Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams as his quarterbacks and a roster full of kids who weren't even alive the last time Vandy was in a bowl, and subsequently should have a job for life if he wants it. In the meantime, they'd better get their 25 years' worth of enjoyment while they have the chance.