Overview
- Vanderbilt announced on Aug. 25, 2026 that senior Blaze Berlowitz will start the Sept. 5 season opener against Austin Peay while freshman Jared Curtis will still play limited snaps.
- Berlowitz is a transfer from New Mexico State in his third season with Vanderbilt who has appeared in six games and completed 9-of-17 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown in 2025.
- Jared Curtis is a five-star Nashville native who flipped from Georgia and is the highest-ranked signee in school history, and the staff plans to integrate him gradually rather than start him immediately.
- Former starter Diego Pavia publicly praised the choice for Berlowitz, and the decision has prompted spirited reaction from fans and analysts concerned about timing and development.
- Coaches say the first six games will provide game reps and data, with a realistic evaluation point in mid‑October that could lead to a permanent switch if Curtis proves ready.