Vanderbilt is taking a different path from Tennessee at quarterback, and that choice sets up an interesting early-season split between the two in-state programs.
Tennessee has already locked in its starter, naming Faizon Brandon to the job. Brandon is a true freshman, and he becomes the first Tennessee true freshman quarterback to start the season opener since Brent Schaeffer in 2004. The move stands out even more because Brandon was not even born yet, underscoring just how unusual that decision is.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is not following the same blueprint. According to On3 and Pete Nakos, the Commodores will open with Blaze Berlowitz instead of five-star freshman Jared Curtis. Curtis originally committed to Georgia before flipping to Vanderbilt, and the expectation was that he would be in line to start for the Commodores.
That won’t be the case in game one, but Curtis still figures to see the field in the season opener against Austin Peay.
The bigger question is what this means later in the year, especially when Tennessee and Vanderbilt meet at the end of the 2026 season. Starting Berlowitz now does not necessarily lock Curtis out of the rivalry game. If both quarterbacks stay healthy, there is still a chance they are battling for the job when that matchup arrives.
That game could end up giving fans a glimpse of what’s ahead for both programs. Even if it reflects where things stand in the moment, it also figures to be a season full of growth for both quarterbacks. By then, both should know the offense better and be in a better rhythm, though freshman mistakes are still likely to show up throughout the year.
As for the talent level, the source points to Brandon and Curtis as the two best quarterbacks from the last recruiting class, in that view. That makes this one of the most intriguing freshman-on-freshman quarterback situations not just in the SEC, but in the country.
The early answer is simple: Tennessee is rolling with Brandon, Vanderbilt is starting Berlowitz, and Curtis is still in the mix. The longer answer is that the real quarterback story between these two programs may not be settled until rivalry week.
In Other News...
Tennessee Fans Need To Know Neylands New Game Day Plan
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is rolling out a new traffic and parking setup around Neyland Stadium this fall, aiming to make football game days run a little smoother and a little safer. Fans who already have parking passes will be directed along designated routes and can also use shuttle options, while those without passes are being steered toward downtown parking and shuttle service instead of driving straight into the stadium area.
For Volunteers fans, the bigger change may be the amount of planning now required before kickoff. Several roads will be closed on game days, and the university is increasing police presence to help manage the flow of traffic around the stadium. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes adjustment that can make a long Saturday feel less chaotic, even if it means a different routine for anyone used to the old Neyland approach. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Is Finally Taking On Neylands Biggest Gameday Frustration
For years, one of the most familiar complaints around Neyland Stadium has had nothing to do with what happens between the lines. Tennessee Athletics, working with local partners, has now developed and tested new gameday traffic patterns that are set to go into place beginning with the 2026 football season opener, a move designed to make the trip to and from South Knoxville feel a lot less like a test of patience.
The plan spells out designated routes for fans with parking passes and gives guidance for those without them, while police and consultants will help manage traffic more aggressively on the back end to improve departures after events. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes fix that usually only gets noticed when it works, but for a stadium experience as big as Neylands, smoothing out the bottlenecks could end up mattering as much to fans as anything on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Freshman Gabriel Osenda Is Giving Vols Hope And A New Worry
Gabriel Osenda arrived in Knoxville in January and has spent preseason doing the kind of work that gets a young offensive tackle noticed quickly. The Tennessee freshman has been taking reps at both left and right tackle, and line coach Glen Elarbee has already put him in the same conversation as current starter Jesse Perry, which tells you how seriously the staff views his long-term upside.
The flip side is the part Tennessee has to watch closely. Osenda recently dealt with a lower-body injury severe enough to leave him in a walking boot and on crutches after the Vols first scrimmage, a reminder that promising linemen can go from intriguing depth piece to roster concern in a hurry. For Tennessee, the hope is obvious - a young tackle who could push for a starting job down the line - but so is the worry about how much time he can spend on the practice field between now and the opener. [Read more 🡒]