⚡ CFB Dashboard

Vanderbilt will host Delaware for its second game of the 2026 season and will have multiple keys to focus in on to come away with, what it hopes will be, a comfortable victory.  Strong secondary play After struggling in the first few drives, Vanderbilt's secondary found a formula for success against Austin Peay in the second half and will need to replicate that performance against a pass-heavy Delaware offense.  Between a dynamic quarterback in Nick Minicucci and a stable of experienced receivers, Vanderbilt will need to be locked in with the secondary throughout the entirety of the game.  "It's a pass-first operation offensively that will challenge us in different ways," Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said of Delaware's offense. "There's a different style here, but a really good player (at quarterback) and the first thing I noticed, just he's got an interesting delivery and it just seems so effortless. He puts the ball where he wants it to go and it's catchable balls." Only three cornerbacks saw more than two snaps in Vanderbilt's win over Austin Peay, so if the Commodores are able to put a gap on the scoreboard early, it could allow for the opportunity to try and develop more depth in the secondary. If Vanderbilt can shut down Delaware's passing game, it could force Delaware to try and run the ball, which has been a weakness for the Blue Hens over the last couple of seasons.  Dominating special teams again Vanderbilt put together one of its most dominant performances under Clark Lea last week against Austin Peay, blocking an extra point and returning it for two points, along with returning a punt for a touchdown.  Special teams was one of the only weak spots for Delaware last week, as kicker Tucker Smack missed both of his field goal attempts from 47 yards and 26 yards.  "To talk about first the special teams play, because I think this it's important, and this is something I think that, if we went back to the media days I was talking about there, but the team performance here is going to look different than it did a year ago," Lea said. "So it's about both, all three phases being strong, but two of those three supporting the offense, right? Like the way our defense plays needs to support possessions for offense, so we build chemistry and connection and obviously the way our special teams perform is about creating field position and also, in the case on Saturday, scoring points, so really proud of that." If Vanderbilt's special teams unit can put together an even somewhat similar performance as it did last week, that should provide the spark needed to separate on the scoreboard and come away with a comfortable win.  Find a rhythm on offense Vanderbilt's offense was clunky and inconsistent in its season opener, primarily due to its rotation at the quarterback position. While Clark Lea plans to play both Blaze Berlowitz and Jared Curtis this week, he will need to find a better rotation and time out those rotations better if there is going to be any offensive consistency and rhythm this week for Vanderbilt.  "The biggest thing that we have to be able to do is be adaptable," Lea said. "Because what we don't want to do is introduce someone into the game when the situation isn't right. I think that can be detrimental to the team and to the player. But we'll have a plan and then as we get to that point in the game where we feel like it's time, we'll assess to make sure it's right."  Vanderbilt will also look to get a stronger performance in the running game this week, especially from its offensive line.  While the offensive line had a solid performance protecting the quarter by not letting up a sack in week one, there was much left to be desired in the run game.  "I want to see game control this week. That means we're finishing drives with touchdowns. And what they're going to do to challenge that is that they are multiple in the front and the way they create a fourth or fifth rusher," Lea said. "We're going to have to be prepared for that and I think it starts for us with our offensive line." Tight end depth stepping up Vanderbilt's starting tight end when healthy, Cole Spence, will miss his second consecutive game this week and Vanderbilt will need the depth in its tight end room to step up again against Delaware.  "With Cole, he's not going to play on Saturday again. I think he's responding positively right now," Lea said. "We're going to get kind of another look at him internally here on Saturday to see where he is. But still week to week and encouraged by the progress he's made and we'll see. Again, we'll see how he continues to respond, but I'm hopeful." With Spence missing another week, Vanderbilt will need Javontay Conner, Maurice Veney, and Walter Taylor to step up on Saturday.  The tight end position has been crucial to Vanderbilt's offense under coordinator Tim Beck, and the tight end room stepping up in Spence's absence could greatly improve the offensive consistency with two inexperienced quarterbacks set to take snaps.