NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tanner McKee ran for a touchdown and threw for two more as Stanford beat Vanderbilt 41-23 Saturday night in the first meeting between the two programs.
Stanford (2-1) finally can head home on a two-game winning streak after playing the first three games on the road, the only Power Five program this season to even play its first two straight games away from home.
Stanford took control scoring 13 points in the final 1:53 of the second quarter. Joshua Karty kicked a 46-yard field goal, then Jimmy Wyrick picked off a Ken Seals pass for the first interception of his career. That set up McKee's second TD pass of the half, a 5-yarder to Brycen Tremayne with 40 seconds left.
The Cardinal defense forced the first three-and-out by Vandy. Casey Filkins returned the punt 48 yards to the Vandy 22, and an illegal formation penalty on the Commodores moved the ball to the 17. Karty came out for the easy 35-yarder for a 27-14 halftime lead. Those were the first field goals of the sophomore kicker's career.
Stanford made it 20 straight after forcing Vanderbilt three-and-out again to open the third quarter. McKee capped a 55-yard drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Jay Symonds for a 34-14 lead.
McKee finished with 218 yards passing in the second straight start of his career. The sophomore completed at least one pass to nine different receivers. Nathaniel Peat and E.J. Smith ran for a TD apiece.
The Cardinal had a 422-398 edge in total offense as Vanderbilt scored a TD on the final play of the game.
After a seven-game road trip that spans back to the 2020 season, Stanford finally returns home next Saturday to host UCLA on at Stanford Stadium.