SEC Program Suffers Major Blow Ahead of No. 2 Georgia Showdown

SEC Program Suffers Major Blow Ahead of No. 2 Georgia Showdown

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SEC Program Suffers Major Blow Ahead of No. 2 Georgia Showdown

The Vanderbilt Commodores came to Athens on Saturday expecting a tough day against No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs. A late update from the SEC’s final availability report, released 90 minutes before kickoff, made it tougher. 

Vanderbilt are 25-point underdogs at Sanford Stadium, per DraftKings. They had waited all week on a game-time decision at the sport’s most important position, and it came down against them with their starting quarterback officially ruled out.

Vanderbilt star freshman Jared Curtis ruled out against Georgia

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that true freshman quarterback Jared Curtis will not play against Georgia because of an undisclosed injury. Curtis was listed as questionable all week after getting hurt in a 21–15 loss at Auburn, and he was officially ruled out following a pregame evaluation on Saturday.

Jared Curtis
Oct 3, 2026; Athens, Georgia, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Jared Curtis (2) walks off the field before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Earlier in the week, Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea expressed hope that his starter could suit up, telling reporters that Curtis had done a little more in practice each day leading up to the game. 

“I’m hopeful,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said, per The Tennessean. “I think every day he’s felt a little better, and he’s done a little more in practice. So certainly not ruling him out. Hopefully in the next 48 hours, we see the improvement where he feels comfortable to go out there and play, but he’s our starting quarterback.”

Curtis, 19, is the highest-ranked recruit in Vanderbilt football history. The five-star prospect from Nashville Christian School flipped his commitment from Georgia to the Commodores in December. 

Through four games this season, he has completed 63 of 98 passes (64.3%) for 746 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. After a tight quarterback competition to open the fall, Curtis took over the offense and started the team’s last two games.

Senior Blaze Berlowitz will start against the Bulldogs as a temporary injury replacement until Curtis returns. Berlowitz, who transferred to Vanderbilt from New Mexico State, has completed 14 of 25 passes for 178 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions this season. 

He has also added 50 yards and a rushing touchdown on 13 carries. After briefly exploring a move to wide receiver earlier this fall, Berlowitz shifted back under center this week to fill the void left by Curtis’ sudden injury.

The matchup is steep for the Commodores. No. 2 Georgia relies heavily on quarterback Gunner Stockton, who has thrown for 754 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only one interception this season. 

Moreover, Vanderbilt has not beaten Georgia since 2016, and the defense is missing multiple critical pieces — including defensive lineman Aaron Bryant, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Still, fans are eagerly waiting to see if an upset is possible. 

Meanwhile, Curtis’s next chance to return to the field comes in Week 6 when Vanderbilt hosts Ole Miss.

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