⚡ CFB Dashboard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt overcame a halftime deficit to earn a 35-26 win over Delaware on Saturday and improve to 2-0 on the season.  After a disastrous second quarter that saw Vanderbilt trailing at the halftime break, Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea handed the reins over to freshman Jared Curtis for the second half. A strong performance by Curtis and the offense, along with a special teams touchdown, in the final two quarters gave Vanderbilt the boost it needed to come away with a win.  With the quarterback battle being the biggest story heading into the game, Blaze Berlowitz earned the start for Vanderbilt, but got off to a sputtering start with a pair of three and outs.  Jared Curtis entered on Vanderbilt's third offensive drive and immediately provided a spark, leading Vanderbilt to consecutive touchdown drives. Vanderbilt continued its musical chairs at quarterback between Curtis and Berlowitz in the first half and it proved to be costly, as a fumble by Berlowitz with under two minutes left in the half swung momentum fully into Delaware's hands. While that drive did not result in points, Delaware blocked a punt for a touchdown just before halftime to take a 17-14 lead into the locker room against a stunned Vanderbilt.  Needing consistency, Vanderbilt turned to Curtis full-time in the second half and Curtis repaid that confidence with a solid and consistent performance. Curtis finished with 210 passing yards and three total touchdowns, making multiple eye-popping throws in the process. Vanderbilt created a blocked punt for a touchdown of its own in the second half by Austin Howard to give the Commodores a two-touchdown lead and a much needed cushion on the scoreboard, as Delaware would cut the deficit to as little as nine points in the fourth quarter.    While Vanderbilt showed flashes defensively, it struggled to find the ability to consistently string stops together, allowing multiple explosive plays on the night. Nick Rinaldi and Miles Capers wreaked havoc for Vanderbilt's defense, even with the unit's shaky performance at times, as Rinaldi totaled seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss, while Capers compiled seven tackles, a sack, and a team-high four tackles for loss. CJ Heard also made an impact in the secondary, finishing with a team-high eight tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.  Vanderbilt moves to 2-0 on the campaign and will face its first major test at home against North Carolina State next Saturday, with kickoff set for 11:45 AM.  Ever thought about starting a business? Feeling burned out in your career, concerned about job security or capped income? Or maybe you're simply looking to diversify your income, build another business, or create something beyond your W-2. Jordan Black (sponsor of football season at Vandy247), founder of Beyond a W-2, spent 10 years as a public school teacher before becoming an entrepreneur and building a multi-million-dollar franchise business. Today, he helps people explore franchise opportunities that fit their goals, lifestyle and financial situation — without having to create a business completely from scratch. There's no cost to work with Jordan and no obligation. Whether you're looking for a career change, an additional income stream, or simply curious about business ownership, start with a conversation. Learn more or schedule a free intro call at beyondaw2.com  (http://beyondaw2.com/) Our presenting sponsor for 2026 is Sylvan Park Ventures - a Nashville-based investment firm partnering with entrepreneurial companies and real estate opportunities through thoughtful growth capital and long-term relationships. Find out more at sylvanparkventures.com (http://sylvanparkventures.com/).