Cream rises to top as No. 2 Georgia outlasts shorthanded Vanderbilt | Estes

ATHENS, GA — Rapid reaction from a shorthanded Vanderbilt’s 38-14 loss to second-ranked Georgia at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 3:

Talking points

• Sadly, this game’s juiciest storyline dried up before kickoff. An undisclosed injury sidelined Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis, meaning the former five-star recruit didn’t play against the Georgia program to which he was once committed. That was a bummer. For the outmanned Commodores, it made an already difficult road test loom nearly impossible. And yet . . .
• . . . Recently demoted QB Blaze Berlowitz stepped in and played admirably against a fast and talented UGA defense. A first-quarter TD pass to Junior Sherrill beat a blitz on third-and-9 and covered 60 yards, becoming a highlight of this season for Vanderbilt’s offense. It wasn't enough in the end, but Berlowitz finished 12-for-23 for 190 yards, keeping the Commodores within shouting distance for a while in this game that wasn’t expected to be close.

BERLOWITZ ➡️ SHERRILL FOR 6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/UFgDIIyQW7

— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 3, 2026

• Georgia did pull away in the second half and quarterback Gunner Stockton made the difference. He was 7-for-7 during an opening 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, and he followed that with a 55-yard completion on the first play of the second quarter, setting up a TD run to make it 14-7. While the Bulldogs ran for only 20 yards in the first half, Stockton had 195 passing yards at halftime.
• The MVP for Vanderbilt: Sherrill. The senior receiver caught seven passes for 107 yards. He has clearly become the top option in an offense that’s leaning more on the pass than was expected entering this season.

Where the game turned

On the opening drive of the second half, Georgia caught a huge break on third-and-5, when (the appropriately named) tight end Lawson Luckie caught a tipped pass and turned it into a 43-yard gain, setting up a touchdown that put the Bulldogs up 28-14. Had Vanderbilt forced a punt, it would’ve had an opportunity to tie the score and make this stadium a little more nervous. Instead, it was the first step in the Bulldogs' sprint to the finish line.

Key number

19 – Vanderbilt’s edge in yardage at halftime. Surprisingly, the Commodores outgained the Bulldogs 234-215 in the first 30 minutes.

What I liked

This game demonstrated the difference between Vanderbilt’s early era under coach Clark Lea and the current one. The Commodores, huge underdogs against an opponent that’d been destroying teams, would’ve had every excuse for getting thumped on the road without their starting quarterback. But this Vandy gave mighty Georgia a game for three quarters. Old Vandy wouldn’t have been able to do that.

What I didn’t like

That said, this still wasn't that close in the end. While Vanderbilt gave itself a chance against a highly ranked foe, it didn’t play well enough down the stretch to seriously challenge a team like Georgia. Penalties are still a problem. Big pass plays and tackling on defense are, too. So is the lack of confidence in a run game that should be more impactful with Vandy's talent at running back.

During a key drive in the second half, the Commodores threw it to Sherrill twice on fourth-and-short. The first time worked. The second time was not, being ruled incomplete on replay review and ending Vandy's realistic hopes for a huge upset.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cream rises to top as No. 2 Georgia outlasts shorthanded Vanderbilt | Estes