Vanderbilt opened the season at 1-0 Saturday night, and it got there by leaning on the ground game while the passing attack never quite found its rhythm against Austin Peay.
Clark Lea said in the preseason that both Blaze Berlowitz and Jared Curtis would be used under center, and that’s exactly how the Commodores handled Week 1. Neither quarterback was especially sharp.
Berlowitz finished with 149 yards on 11-of-16 passing, while Curtis went 7-of-9 for 60 yards. Curtis was the one many Vanderbilt fans wanted to see more of, and they made that clear by booing Berlowitz as he came out to lead the Commodores after halftime.
Even with the uneven play through the air, Vanderbilt found a steadier answer on the ground. Sedrick Alexander paced the offense with 10 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown, and Berlowitz added 11 carries for 45 yards and a score of his own. That run production ended up carrying the day.
The game itself had a strange feel from start to finish. Austin Peay briefly went ahead 6-5 after a Vanderbilt safety, and the Commodores were still only up 15-9 at halftime as they struggled to move the ball consistently.
Special teams also played a role in the odd night. Vanderbilt put the game out of reach to open the fourth quarter with a “punt” return touchdown that shut down any thought of an Austin Peay comeback.
Vanderbilt returns to action next weekend against Delaware.
In Other News...
Marlen Sewells Vanderbilt Return Says Everything About This Program
Marlen Sewells return for Vanderbilts 2026 season opener was the kind of reminder that says as much about the program as it does about the player. A former Commodore and team captain now on the Chicago Bears practice squad, Sewell showed up around the team he once led, spending time with current players and staff and reinforcing just how tight those ties remain long after a college career ends.
For Vanderbilt, moments like that matter because they speak to the culture around the program, not just the scoreboard. Sewell was cut from the Bears active roster after a preseason game, but his connection to Nashville has clearly endured, and his presence on campus underscored the way he still values the relationships and legacy he built in black and gold. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Is Making An Early Recruiting Push Fans Should Notice
Vanderbilts early recruiting board is already taking shape, and the range of offers says plenty about how broad the staff wants to cast its net. The Commodores have extended scholarships to a mix of prospects from Tennessee and Kentucky, while also reaching overseas to the NFL Academy in England, a sign that the program is willing to look beyond the usual footprint as it builds out future classes.
The 2027 class already includes 17 commits, but the staff is not waiting around before moving on to the next wave of targets. Offers have already gone out to players such as Augustine Irek, Jayden Jamerson, Braylen Batts-Hobbs and Gregory Kirwan, with Vanderbilt also beginning to make inroads into the 2028 cycle. It is an early push, but one that gives a clearer picture of how aggressively the Commodores want to stay ahead in recruiting. [Read more 🡒]
Sedrick Alexander Is Giving Vanderbilt Offense Something It Desperately Needs
Sedrick Alexander kept getting the ball early in Vanderbilts recent game, and the Commodores made a point of leaning on him from the start. He turned that workload into a touchdown, giving an offense in search of stability a back it can trust while the rest of the depth chart sorts itself out.
Blaze Berlowitz and Jared Curtis are still battling for the quarterback job, and Clark Lea has made clear the decision will come down to who gives Vanderbilt the best chance to win. Until that settles, Alexander looks positioned to remain a central piece of the plan, the kind of reliable presence that can help steady an offense still trying to find its shape. [Read more 🡒]