Jared Curtis is on track to give Vanderbilt a major boost on Saturday.
According to a Thursday afternoon report from CBS Sports insider Matt Zenitz, the freshman quarterback is “expected to return” to the starting lineup when the Commodores host No. 9 Ole Miss in a Week 6 SEC matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Curtis missed last week’s game at Georgia because of an undisclosed injury, and Vanderbilt felt the absence in a 38-14 loss that dropped the Commodores to 0-2 in SEC play. Blaze Berlowitz got the start in Curtis’s place, but the offense never found much rhythm against the Bulldogs. Berlowitz finished 12 of 23 for 190 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
The status change comes after Curtis had been listed questionable on Wednesday night’s injury report before becoming a game-time decision ahead of the Georgia game. He was seen running and stretching with a trainer before kickoff, but ultimately was ruled out.
Now, the expectation is that Curtis will be back under center after opening the season by playing in Vanderbilt’s first four games. The former 5-star recruit, who originally committed to Georgia before flipping and staying home in Nashville, has thrown for 746 yards with 4 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. He has completed 64.3 percent of his passes.
Curtis has also made his presence felt as a runner, carrying the ball 41 times for 133 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
With Vanderbilt set to get its starter back, attention now shifts to the market view of the Commodores’ chances to pull off the home upset against Ole Miss.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Is Building An LSU Threat Ole Miss Can't Ignore
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From an Ole Miss perspective, the uneasy part is what comes next. LSU has not yet reached the toughest stretch of its slate, which means the Tigers still have a chance to show whether that early buzz is real or just September noise, and the next few weeks should go a long way toward answering whether Kiffin has built something the Rebels will have to chase all season. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Faces A Real Offensive Question Before Vanderbilt
Ole Miss heads into its matchup with Vanderbilt this week with the kind of offensive question that tends to loom larger when the calendar flips and the sample size gets smaller. The Rebels have been compared to last seasons group through TeamRankings numbers, and while some of the broad production markers remain familiar, there are enough differences in efficiency and rhythm to make this offense feel less settled than the one fans watched a year ago.
Kewan Lacys limited availability in recent games has been part of that uncertainty, especially on the ground, where the Rebels have had to adjust to a different kind of rotation and output. Add in an unusual kickoff time and a series with some historical weight, and this trip to Vanderbilt becomes less about simply staying on schedule and more about whether Ole Miss can find a dependable offensive answer before the SEC slate tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Fans Already Have One Big Adidas Uniform Concern
Ole Miss is moving into a new apparel era, but the school is trying to calm the sort of concern that always follows a brand switch. The Rebels announced a seven-year partnership with adidas that will make the company the official footwear, uniform, apparel and sideline partner, while both sides have stressed a commitment to keeping the programs traditional colors and familiar look intact even as new designs are introduced.
For fans, the uneasiness is easy to understand. Any change like this brings questions about what will stay the same and what might look different once the new deal takes hold, especially for a program with such a recognizable identity. Ole Miss and adidas are already talking about preserving that visual tradition, but the real test will come when the uniforms start showing up on the field. [Read more 🡒]