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Column: Vanderbilt Football Preserved Its Season Trajectory, But it Has a Lot to Fix

Column: Vanderbilt Football Preserved Its Season Trajectory, But it Has a Lot to Fix

NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea knew it was only a matter of time before the conversation in his postgame press conference shifted off the highlight of Vanderbilt’s miraculous 35-31 win over NC State to the lowlights of the game.

Jared Curtis News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 20
With Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt Football Will Have Freshman Moments But Is Never Out Of The Fight

With Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt Football Will Have Freshman Moments But Is Never Out Of The Fight

NASHVILLE—It’s the type of herculean effort that could appear in Jared Curtis’ highlight reel as Vanderbilt campaigns for him as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate next August NFL Draft tape one day.  He dodged two defenders in the backfield.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 19
Inside Vanderbilt Football’s Miraculous Comeback Victory Over NC State

Inside Vanderbilt Football’s Miraculous Comeback Victory Over NC State

NASHVILLE — With 64 seconds remaining in Vanderbilt’s football game against NC State, it looked all but over for the Commodores. Vanderbilt five-star freshman quarterback threw a heartbreaking interception to a NC State defender on a drive that was on the verge of starting the Curtis era off with some incredible lore in his Vanderbilt career.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 19
5 Plays that Defined Vanderbilt's Unbelievable Win Over NC State

5 Plays that Defined Vanderbilt's Unbelievable Win Over NC State

In a game that many believed would be a preview of the rest of Vanderbilt’s season, the Commodores came out flat and ridden with mistakes. Jared “the future” Curtis looked impressive but inconsistent (I still have faith in him though), and Vanderbilt’s defense got torn apart by a rather unintimidating NC State team.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 19
'Until the Game Hit Double Zeros,' How Vanderbilt Football Set Itself Up For Miracle Ending Against NC State

'Until the Game Hit Double Zeros,' How Vanderbilt Football Set Itself Up For Miracle Ending Against NC State

NASHVILLE—-Vanderbilt football knows how fortunate it is that after a performance in which it needed to rely on NC State to make an unfathomable mistake, it still left FirstBank Stadium with a win.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 19
Vanderbilt Football Players React to Final Play of Unbelievable Win

Vanderbilt Football Players React to Final Play of Unbelievable Win

NASHVILLE — Standing on the home sideline of the south end zone at FirstBank Stadium, all Vanderbilt wide receiver Junior Sherrill could do was look up to the heavens.

Miles Capers News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 19
Inside Vanderbilt Football's Miracle Last-Second Win Over NC State And The Moment Miles Capers Became Immortalized

Inside Vanderbilt Football's Miracle Last-Second Win Over NC State And The Moment Miles Capers Became Immortalized

NASHVILLE—-While it was registering one-by-one to each Vanderbilt player, Miles Capers—the victorious hero—was long gone and galloping towards the sideline.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / ESPN / September 19

NC State fumbles away game in last-second Vandy stunner

The Vanderbilt Commodores pulled off their own Music City Miracle on Saturday with a stunning 35-31, last-second comeback victory over NC State.

College Football News / Yardbarker / September 19
NC State's collapse at Vandy enters pantheon of painful losses

NC State's inexplicable collapse at Vandy enters pantheon of painful Wolfpack losses

On Saturday, the Wolfpack were at the epicenter of one of the most inexplicable losses in modern college football history.

NC State QB CJ Bailey commits unreal blunder to lose game to Vanderbilt
QB Michael Hawkins carries West Virginia to upset of No. 25 Virginia
Braden Pegan scores two TDs, No. 17 Utah rolls past Utah State
No. 5 Miami survives sluggish second half to beat Wake Forest
Darian Mensah sets ACC, Miami records against Wake Forest
Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 19
Vanderbilt Football Beats NC State Off Miraculous Finish

Vanderbilt Football Beats NC State Off Miraculous Finish

NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt football used a miracle to complete an incredible three-score comeback, beating NC State 35-31. From the outset, Vanderbilt’s day was its worst of the season thus far.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 19
Vanderbilt Football Gets Off To Disaster Start Against NC State

Vanderbilt Football Gets Off To Disaster Start Against NC State

NASHVILLE—Vanderbilt football hasn’t had much of anything go right through a quarter against NC State, which most nationally believed it would beat.  NC State leads Vanderbilt 14-0, has scored a touchdown on two of its three drives and intercepted a long pass from Jared Curtis that was intended for Vanderbilt receiver Kayleb Barnett.

CJ Heard News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 18
The Onus Is On Vanderbilt Football To Prove Something Saturday Against NC State

The Onus Is On Vanderbilt Football To Prove Something Saturday Against NC State

NASHVILLE—Remember when CJ Heard said that?  Heard stood on the podium after Vanderbilt’s 35-26 win over Delaware and brushed off any concerns that coincided with Vanderbilt’s unconvincing play through two weeks.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 18
How Vanderbilt Football Feels About Offensive Line Going Into This Weekend

How Vanderbilt Football Feels About Offensive Line Going Into This Weekend

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt football knows it has not played to its standard on either side of the ball through two games this season. A season ago, Vanderbilt was one of the most explosive offenses in college football.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 18

Exclusive: What Five-Star Forward Bentley Lusakueno Made Of Vanderbilt Basketball Visit

NASHVILLE—-Five-star forward Bentley Lusakueno will have his pick of just about any college basketball program in the country when the time comes for him

Jared Curtis News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 17
Why Vanderbilt Fans Need to Pump the Breaks on the Jared Curtis Hype

Why Vanderbilt Fans Need to Pump the Breaks on the Jared Curtis Hype

Diehard fans know the words Vanderbilt and football have never really been associated with each other. Diehards also watched, along with the rest of the country, as Diego Pavia flipped that story on its head last season.

Clark Lea News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 17
Could Vanderbilt Football Quarterback Blaze Berlowitz Still Help Vanderbilt in 2026? Why Clark Lea Says Yes

Could Vanderbilt Football Quarterback Blaze Berlowitz Still Help Vanderbilt in 2026? Why Clark Lea Says Yes

NASHVILLE—If the reality didn’t set in for Vanderbilt quarterback Blaze Berlowitz as he stood quietly on the sideline in the second half of Vanderbilt’s

College Football News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 17
Vanderbilt Football Gears Up For NC State’s Dynamic Quarterback

Vanderbilt Football Gears Up For NC State’s Dynamic Quarterback

NASHVILLE – This weekend features a matchup that Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea has prepared for before and will continue to prepare for with his team down the road.

Jared Curtis News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 16
What NC State’s Dave Doeren Said About Vanderbilt Football Quarterback Jared Curtis

What NC State’s Dave Doeren Said About Vanderbilt Football Quarterback Jared Curtis

NASHVILLE – Before Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea even took the podium Tuesday afternoon to announce that Jared Curtis was going to be the starter, NC State was already beginning prep on how to defend Curtis.

Vanderbilt Commodores News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 16
Vanderbilt Lands 2027 DL Commitment out of Nigeria

Vanderbilt Lands 2027 DL Commitment out of Nigeria

Vanderbilt football landed a commitment from defensive lineman Augustine Irek from the class of 2027 which he announced this week. Irek committed to the program just one week after receiving an offer from the Commodores.

Jared Curtis News / Vanderbilt Commodores on SI / September 15
The Key To Jared Curtis Winning Vanderbilt Football's Starting Job? He Never Flinched

The Key To Jared Curtis Winning Vanderbilt Football's Starting Job? He Never Flinched

NASHVILLE—Clark Lea still remembers it vividly as he stands at the podium on this Tuesday afternoon. MK Young accelerated towards the left pylon and looked

Jared Curtis News / Yardbarker / September 15
Vanderbilt turning to Curtis ahead of power conference matchup

Vanderbilt turning to true freshman Jared Curtis ahead of power conference matchup

Vanderbilt's future begins in Week 3.

Vanderbilt QB Jared Curtis to start vs. North Carolina State
Jared Curtis takes charge as Vanderbilt surges past Delaware
The 'College football color teams' quiz
Vanderbilt hopes to capture lightning in a bottle twice after naming former NMSU QB Week 1 starter

Vanderbilt hopes to capture lightning in a bottle twice after naming former NMSU QB Week 1 starter

After succeeding with one underdog former New Mexico State quarterback, Vanderbilt is aiming to capture lightning in a bottle twice.

Big Ten makes rule change to keep NFL players out of college football
Weekly Syllabus: Fifth-year madness in college football with Week 0 days away
College football's most impactful defensive transfers for 2026
Oregon HC Dan Lanning slams NFL players trying to return to college football
The '2024-25 college football bowl game host cities' quiz
College Basketball News / Yardbarker / August 3
Tennessee lands former Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington

Tennessee lands former Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington via transfer portal

The Tennessee Volunteers have picked up an intriguing big man via the transfer portal after a lawsuit granted him an extra year of eligibility to play college hoops.

Niko Medved, Minnesota hoops land top target in four-star SF Isaiah Santos
Clark Lea doesn't think Vanderbilt's new starting QB will have to be like Diego Pavia

Clark Lea doesn't think Vanderbilt's new starting QB will have to be like Diego Pavia

Diego Pavia was a superstar for the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2024 and 2025.  

Clark Lea clear on Vanderbilt's progress: 'Last season was not an arrival'
The 'College football color teams' quiz

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