Vanderbilt is set to get a major boost under center on Saturday afternoon, with five-star freshman Jared Curtis expected to return against No. 9 Ole Miss after missing last week’s game at Georgia because of an injury, sources tell CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Curtis’ absence was felt in Athens, where veteran Blaze Berlowitz got the start and completed 52.2% of his passes for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Berlowitz had opened the season as the starter before Curtis climbed the depth chart and earned his first start against NC State in Week 3.
The freshman’s return matters because Curtis has already flashed the kind of talent that made him the No. 2 overall player in the 2026 signing class, per 247Sports. In four games, he has completed 64.3% of his passes for 746 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. The growing pains have been real, especially with decision-making, but that comes with the territory for a young quarterback still finding his way.
Curtis last played in Week 4 against Auburn, a game in which he absorbed plenty of punishment while carrying the ball 18 times and taking four sacks. That wear and tear is what kept him out against Georgia.
His presence gives Vanderbilt a higher offensive ceiling against an Ole Miss defense that has struggled, particularly against the run. The Rebels are allowing 194.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks 127th nationally.
That opens the door for Sedrick Alexander, who leads Vanderbilt with 200 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. If Alexander can keep the offense on schedule, it should ease the burden on Curtis in what will be just the second start of his college career.
For Curtis, a Nashville native, Saturday also carries a hometown angle. Vanderbilt hasn’t beaten Ole Miss since 2018, and a win would give the young quarterback a chance to become a local hero.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Faces A Real Offensive Question Before Vanderbilt
Ole Miss heads into its matchup with Vanderbilt with a little more to sort through than a typical SEC Saturday, even with the Rebels carrying the stronger recent history in the series. The kickoff time has shifted, but the bigger adjustment may be on offense, where this years group is being measured against last seasons unit with TeamRankings data showing a mix of familiar strengths and some notable changes in how the Rebels are moving the ball.
Kewan Lacys limited availability in recent games has added another layer to the conversation, especially with the rushing game not producing at the same level. For a team that has leaned on offensive consistency to set the tone, the question is whether Ole Miss can clean that up quickly enough to avoid carrying an unfinished feel into a conference game that still matters beyond the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has A Finishing Problem It Must Fix At Vanderbilt
Ole Miss has spent the last two games reminding everyone that a comfortable lead is not the same thing as a finished product. Against Louisville and LSU, the Rebels built enough cushion to control the flow, then had to lean on late offensive work to make sure those wins stayed in the column. After a two-week stretch to sort through the details, the issue now shifts from hindsight to urgency, because the next chance to prove it comes on the road at Vanderbilt.
That trip brings a different kind of pressure for a team trying to show it can close. Conference games have a way of tightening when the fourth quarter arrives, and Ole Miss has already shown it cannot afford to let chances linger. The Rebels do not need a style change so much as cleaner execution when the game should already be in hand, and Vanderbilt offers another test of whether they have actually solved that problem. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Curtis Is Back In The SEC Spotlight Georgia Never Lost Sight Of
Jared Curtis is expected to be back under center for Vanderbilt when it meets Ole Miss, a welcome development after he sat out the previous game with an undisclosed injury. The quarterback has been the focal point of the Commodores offense for much of the season, and his presence changes the feel of this matchup for a Rebels defense that now has to prepare for a more familiar, more dangerous version of Vanderbilt.
Curtis has played in the first four games of the season and has put together a mixed but productive start, throwing for 746 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 133 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. For Ole Miss, the assignment is less about the numbers than the threat he creates when he is healthy, which is why his return adds another layer to a conference game already carrying plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]