Vanderbilt football survived a late Delaware scoring run to win 35-26 in Nashville and remain unbeaten in the early stages of the 2026 season.
The bigger story was true freshman Jared Curtis seizing playing time and delivering when it mattered; a full assessment of the game is available at si.com.
Key Takeaways
- Jared Curtis finished 14-for-22 for 210 yards with one passing touchdown and two rushing scores, and he played the entire second half.
- Blaze Berlowitz and Curtis split first-half snaps before Curtis handled the full second half, and Berlowitz finished 3-for-9 for 29 yards and lost a fumble.
- Jayvontay Conner led Vanderbilt pass catchers with six receptions for 87 yards while Cole Spence remains sidelined with a lower-body injury and an unknown timeline.
- Defensive leaders CJ Heard, Nick Rinaldi and Miles Capers produced key plays, though Delaware found traction late in the game.
Vanderbilt football quarterback battle shifts toward Jared Curtis
The first-half quarterback plan featured split reps between Curtis and Blaze Berlowitz, but Curtis took every snap of the second half and energized the offense when drives mattered most.
Curtis finished 14-for-22 passing for 210 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, including two rushing scores, and he was the starter on each Vanderbilt scoring drive in the game.
Berlowitz appeared in four first-half possessions, accumulated 53 yards on 14 plays, completed 3-of-9 throws for 29 yards and lost a fumble, a sequence that widened the gap in the competition.
Receiver room showed uneven production
East Carolina transfer Jayvontay Conner continued to build trust as a target, leading the Commodores with six catches for 87 yards and functioning as a reliable option for Curtis.
Cole Spence is sidelined with a lower-body injury and his return timeline is unknown, which has extended Conner’s role in the passing game across the early schedule.
Ja’Cory Thomas was listed healthy but did not record a target or catch, while Brycen Coleman managed one reception for six yards on a single target, leaving questions about depth and consistent secondary options.
Vanderbilt defensive leaders produced timely plays
The Commodores’ defensive veterans set the tone early, with safety CJ Heard leading the team in tackles and recording two sacks courtesy of perimeter pressure.
Linebacker Nick Rinaldi was effective in blitz packages and edge defender Miles Capers also registered a sack, giving Vanderbilt a strong early defensive script.
Delaware mounted a late surge, but the emergence of those defensive playmakers underlined who the unit relies on as the schedule ramps up.
On-field comparison of Vanderbilt quarterbacks
| Quarterback | Passing (Comp-Att) | Passing yards | Touchdowns | Other verified notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Curtis | 14-22 | 210 | 1 passing TD, 2 rushing TDs | Played entire second half; started every Vanderbilt scoring drive |
| Blaze Berlowitz | 3-9 | 29 | 0 | Appeared in four first-half possessions; 53 total yards on 14 plays; lost a fumble |
What a likely Curtis start means for NC State and recruiting
A Curtis-led game plan shifts Vanderbilt toward a more dynamic red-zone and short-field attacking approach given his two rushing touchdowns and ability to start scoring drives.
That shift would force Vanderbilt to lean on reliable safety valves like Jayvontay Conner while the team waits on Cole Spence’s return and seeks more consistent production from perimeter targets such as Ja’Cory Thomas and Brycen Coleman.
From a recruiting and roster-construction perspective, a visible freshman quarterback taking the lead alters how coaches sell early playing opportunity to prospects and raises Curtis’ stock in early evaluations without creating formal guarantees about the long-term depth chart.
Full reporting and the stock exchange assessment that informs this piece are available at the linked original report.
