Vanderbilt · SECBerlowitz starts as Vanderbilt opens post-Pavia era
Five-star freshman Jared Curtis is also expected to play against Austin Peay on Sept. 5 in Nashville.
SEP 5, 2026
The Pate State · Editorial IllustrationVanderbilt named Blaze Berlowitz its starting quarterback for the Sept. 5 season opener against Austin Peay, while five-star freshman Jared Curtis is also expected to play in Nashville.
Berlowitz gets the opening assignment as Vanderbilt begins the post-Diego Pavia era. The Commodores finished 10-3 overall and 6-2 in the SEC in 2025, but the quarterback plan could begin settling who leads them beyond the opener. Vanderbilt has not disclosed how much Curtis will play or whether his appearance is part of a planned rotation.
The matchup at FirstBank Stadium pairs Vanderbilt with an Austin Peay team that is 1-0 after beating Gardner-Webb. Governors quarterback Chris Parson is a former Ravenwood High School player and Mississippi State transfer.
The game was set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and will be called by Courtney Lyle and Rene Ingoglia. Berlowitz has the first snap; Curtis has the first chance to change the conversation.
01 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The opener is less a one-night quarterback decision than the start of a three-game home evaluation before the schedule turns sharply. After Austin Peay, Vanderbilt hosts Delaware on Sept. 12 and NC State on Sept. 19, then goes to Auburn on Sept. 26 and Georgia on Oct. 3. That gives Berlowitz and Curtis three consecutive Saturdays at FirstBank Stadium before back-to-back SEC road games, including a matchup with the No. 1 team in Josh Pate’s preseason bracket.
Vanderbilt’s 10-3, 6-2 finish in 2025 raises the cost of carrying an unsettled hierarchy into that road stretch. Berlowitz’s start establishes the order, but Curtis’ usage will show how firm it is. A brief late appearance would preserve a clear separation; meaningful snaps while the game is competitive would turn the first three home dates into a live competition before Auburn and Georgia test whichever plan emerges.
02 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
How much of the offense will Curtis run against Austin Peay?
The answer separates a freshman debut from an active quarterback race. Curtis’ entry point, series count and share of competitive snaps on Sept. 5 will show whether Berlowitz is being treated as the season-long lead or merely the first option. The Sept. 12 depth chart against Delaware, followed by how the snaps are divided in game two, provides the next tell before NC State visits Sept. 19 and the schedule shifts to Auburn and Georgia. Those are the last checkpoints before SEC play.