Vanderbilt names Blaze Berlowitz its starting quarterback, beating five-star rookie Jared Curtis

Vanderbilt has selected veteran Blaze Berlowitz as its starting quarterback for the 2026 season, according to a report from Yahoo Sports that cited ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The decision settles a high-stakes quarterback competition in Nashville, with Berlowitz, a senior, earning the top job after spring and fall preparation against one of the class’s most touted newcomers.

The key detail is that the starting quarterback designation does not eliminate Jared Curtis from the plan. Yahoo Sports reported that Curtis, a five-star true freshman, is still expected to play in Week 1, suggesting Vanderbilt intends to use both quarterbacks in some capacity rather than handing Curtis a fully red-lighted role.

For Vanderbilt, the choice of a senior starter points to a preference for experience at the position as the Commodores head into a new season. In practical terms, it can influence game-week decision-making, especially around third-down execution, tempo management, and how quickly the offense can operate from first look to second adjustment.

Berlowitz’s path to the job is notable because the competition included a prospect who entered the program with significant expectations. Curtis being described as a five-star recruit frames how much Vanderbilt was willing to bet on the future while still selecting its most ready player to begin the season at quarterback.

The broader quarterback picture for college programs is often about more than the starter. Even when one player is named the first option, the staff must decide how to develop the backup while keeping the team’s offensive rhythm intact. Vanderbilt’s reported plan, with Curtis still set to play early, indicates the coaching staff appears comfortable managing reps for a talented freshman without sidelining him entirely.

The Week 1 element matters because it is the earliest concrete test of the depth chart. Curtis getting meaningful playing time would report a deliberate developmental workload and can also affect how defenses prepare in the season’s first weeks, since opponents will have to account for a package or play calls designed for a younger skill set.

Vanderbilt’s next step is to translate the quarterback battle outcome into consistent offensive production. With a senior listed as the starter and a five-star freshman still expected to see action immediately, the most important question becomes how the staff balances continuity and development as the season progresses, especially if early games force rapid in-game adjustments.

As of publication, Vanderbilt’s official confirmation of the named starter was not provided in the report content available here, so this should be treated as a strong indication rather than an independently verified team release. Still, the reported outcome gives a clear early-season framework, and it is likely to shape how both quarterbacks are used as the Commodores move into Week 1 preparations.