The Vanderbilt Commodores are coming off their best season in program history, recording their first 10-win campaign ever, and finishing inside the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2013. Diego Pavia was the Heisman runner-up, and Clark Lea earned SEC Coach of the Year honors for a second straight year. While there were some questions about who would take over for Pavia this season, senior Blaze Berlowitz started the first two games of the season, and the Commodores won both matchups: a 28-9 victory over Austin Peay and a 35-26 win over Delaware.
But it wasn't Berlowitz who won them that Delaware game, it was true freshman Jared Curtis. Curtis rotated in for snaps in each of the team's first two games, but Lea has clearly seen enough to make a change heading into Week 3. On Tuesday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Curtis is set to take over as Vanderbilt's starter this Saturday against NC State, marking the first official start of his career.
More news: Ole Miss Heavily Beefing up Security for Lane Kiffin’s Return to Oxford Curtis was the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the 2026 class, the top-ranked prospect from Tennessee, and the fourth-overall recruit in the country, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. What's most impressive isn't just that Vanderbilt landed a prospect of that caliber, but that they flipped him from Georgia. Curtis initially committed to the Bulldogs in May 2025 before switching to Vanderbilt in early December.
Everyone felt it was only a matter of time before Curtis won the starting job, but few expected it to happen this early in the season. But he's balled out through two weeks with the Commodores. Last week against the Blue Hens, Curtis came on toward the end of the first quarter after Berlowitz fizzled out, and commanded the offense from there.
He finished 14 of 22 for 210 yards and one touchdown with zero interceptions, along with two rushing touchdowns. It may have come against Delaware, but that's an impressive showing for a player who's still just 19 years old. More news: Florida State President Sends Clear Message About Mike Norvell’s Future More news: NCAA Issues Major Rule Change After Michigan-Western Michigan Controversy NC State won't be a cakewalk, though.
The Wolfpack just dismantled Richmond 73-0 and strung together several big upsets last season under longtime head coach Dave Doeren, including wins over Virginia, Georgia Tech, Florida State, North Carolina, and Memphis. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, with Vanderbilt listed as narrow 3.5-point favorites.
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