COUNTDOWN: Vanderbilt's No. 3 offensive play of the year

Call these the 12 plays of Christmas: In a season in which Vanderbilt needed all the offense it could get, 12 plays helped us become bowl eligible for the first time in 26 years.

Here's No. 3:

3. NICKSON GOES LONG (SOUTH CAROLINA 9/4): Vanderbilt had struggled to move the ball for nearly three quarters on a tough South Carolina defense. But after the Commodores recovered a fumbled punt on the Gamecock 31, quarterback Chris Nickson went for broke, firing a pass over all-star corner Captain Munnerlyn and into the hands of Brandon Barden, who scored the first touchdown of his career and tied the game 10-10. The play stunned the Gamecocks and turned the momentum in the favor of the Commodores, who went on to win 24-17.