Vanderbilt has chosen veteran experience over blue-chip pedigree for its upcoming season opener, naming Blaze Berlowitz as the starting quarterback for the 2026 debut against Austin Peay. While Berlowitz gets the nod under center, highly touted five-star freshman Jared Curtis is also expected to take snaps in the contest, according to reporting initially broken by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The decision to start Berlowitz hinges primarily on his deep familiarity with offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s intricate system. Having spent three seasons operating behind former Vanderbilt standout Diego Pavia across stints at New Mexico State (2023) and Vanderbilt (2024–2025), Berlowitz brings a commanding grasp of the playbook’s reads and execution.
While Curtis presents a higher ceiling in raw physical traits, Berlowitz offers immediate operational stability. His game action remains limited, but his extended time in the system proved to be the deciding factor for the season opener.
Blaze Berlowitz Career Stats
| Season | Team | GP | Pass Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD |
| 2023 | New Mexico State | 1 | 10/19 | 134 | 1 |
| 2024 | Vanderbilt | 0 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | Vanderbilt | 6 | 9/17 | 131 | 1 |
1.Establishing System Mastery:Berlowitz takes the opening snaps.
Berlowitz earns the initial nod due to three years of absorbing Tim Beck’s scheme. His primary focus against Austin Peay will be managing game flow, avoiding mistakes, and making quick pre-snap reads.
2.Integrating the Freshman Star:Curtis slated for planned game action.
Despite sitting behind Berlowitz on the initial depth chart, five-star rookie Jared Curtis is locked into the game plan. The coaching staff plans to give the freshman meaningful live reps to test his elite raw tools against live defense.
3.Replacing a Program Legend:Filling the shoes of Diego Pavia.
Whichever quarterback takes the long-term reins must step out of the shadow of Diego Pavia. Following a historic 10–3 campaign in 2025—featuring a Heisman runner-up finish and program single-game passing records—the new starter inherits high expectations.
The Commodores begin their 2026 campaign at home on Saturday, Sept. 5, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. Kickoff against Austin Peay is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT, with national streaming coverage on SEC Network+.
Jose Reis is a sports enthusiast and performance specialist with a background in administration and sports media. As a former sports podcaster and broadcaster, José has spent years analyzing athletic performance and the evolution of competitive sports. At TheGymWaves, he applies his analytical mindset to explore fitness technologies, ergonomic tools, and habit-building frameworks. José specializes in high-performance optimization, helping readers select the best tools and routines to enhance physical output and cognitive health through structured, data-driven habits.
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