A Shocking Quarterback Switch
Vanderbilt University announced a surprising change at the quarterback position heading into the 2026 campaign, naming senior Blaze Berlowitz as the Commodores’ starter.
The decision elevates a player who arrived on campus only last year after a modest stint at New Mexico State, where he completed just 10 of 19 passes for 134 yards and a single touchdown.
Berlowitz’s limited starting experience contrasted sharply with the profile of the player he displaced, five‑star recruit Jared Curtis, who had been the overwhelming favorite in preseason evaluations.
Curtis, a top‑ranked signal caller from Nashville Christian School, entered the SEC with high expectations but struggled to adapt to the speed and complexity of conference play, a factor that many analysts believe opened the door for Berlowitz.
Coaching staff and teammates have praised Berlowitz’s poise and work ethic, noting that his transfer experience gave him a broader perspective on the game.
The move comes as Vanderbilt looks to build on a breakout 2025 season that ended with a 10‑2 overall record and a 6‑2 mark in SEC play, the best in program history.
That campaign featured a memorable victory over Tennessee, snapping a six‑game losing streak and cementing the Commodores’ resurgence under head coach Clark Lea.
Looking ahead, Vanderbilt’s 2026 schedule opens with two preseason exhibitions before confronting a gauntlet of SEC opponents, including a potential rematch with Tennessee in the final week at Neyland Stadium.
If the Commodores can translate Berlowitz’s unexpected ascension into on‑field success, the quarterback decision could become a defining storyline of the season.