How Jared Curtis could create his own Alabama moment for Vanderbilt football -

Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis admits that he didn’t see the 2024 game in which Vanderbilt football beat Alabama, marking a new era for the Commodores.

“I didn’t really watch the game,” Curtis said Nov. 10. “I saw the aftermath of the storm(ing) the field, which was pretty cool and then took the goalpost down Broadway, which is pretty cool.”

Curtis now has the chance to make a moment of his own against the Crimson Tide when they come to FirstBank Stadium for a matchup Nov. 14 (11:45 a.m. CT, SEC Network).

Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-5) is coming off a 25-23 win against Mississippi State, the first SEC win of the season for the Commodores – and Curtis. Alabama (7-2, 5-2) is not the No. 1 team it was in 2024 (it is ranked No. 7 in the coaches poll), but a win has the chance to help propel the Commodores to a bowl game that was looking increasingly unlikely.

“We’re still fighting for a bowl game,” Curtis said. “That’s still a possibility, and that’s what the team wants, and we’re going to keep pushing for that. And we’ve got three more games to play.”

Sep 5, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Jared Curtis (2) scrambles against the Austin Peay Governors during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) is brought down by Austin Peay defensive back Markell Redding (3) during their game at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) runs against Austin Peay defensive back Markell Redding (3) during their game at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) runs into Austin Peay defensive back Justin Wimpye (5) during their game at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) runs through Austin Peay defensive back Justin Wimpye (5) during their game at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) throws a completion while being taken down by Austin Peay linebacker Jefferson Bretanys-Desca (14) during their game at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) scrambles against Austin Peay during their game at FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) throws during practice at Vanderbilt University Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterbacks Blaze Berlowitz (1) and Jared Curtis (2) go through drills during practice at Vanderbilt University Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) directs his receivers while pressured by Vanderbilt linebacker Nick Rinaldi (24) during Vanderbilt Football’s Black and Gold Spring Game in FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, April 18, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt University freshman quarterback Jared Curtis (2) throws in practice at Vanderbilt Universityâ€™s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN, DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2), left, and offensive coordinator Tim Beck and the other quarterbacks gather after Vanderbilt Football’s Black and Gold Spring Game in FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, April 18, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) throws while pressured by Vanderbilt defensive tackle Mike Diatta (15) during Vanderbilt Football’s Black and Gold Spring Game in FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, April 18, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) looks to pass during Vanderbilt Football’s Black and Gold Spring Game in FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, April 18, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) throws during Vanderbilt Football’s Black and Gold Spring Game in FirstBank Stadium at Vanderbilt University Saturday, April 18, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) goes through drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis (2) pitches to running back Gabe Fields (24) during drills at Vanderbilt University’s McGugin Center practice fields Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

(DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN)

Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis watches football pro day at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 20, 2026.

(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)

Though Curtis did have a fumble returned for a touchdown during the third quarter against Mississippi State, he avoided a late-game gaffe like he had against Kentucky or Arkansas. Both times, Vanderbilt was trailing and trying to narrow the deficit late when Curtis threw an interception. Curtis did a similar thing against NC State, but got bailed out by the Wolfpack’s fumble in the end zone at the last second.

Now, Curtis can be confident that he doesn’t need to be the only hero after kicker Brock Taylor nailed six field goals, a program record, against the Bulldogs.

“Just being smart with the football,” Curtis said. “If it’s an RPO, you don’t need to throw the ball. Just take care of the ball and drain the clock out, and then make smart plays with the ball.”

What Kalen DeBoer said about Vanderbilt win over Alabama

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the Commodores’ 2024 win in his news conference Nov. 9.

“They just out-executed us, stayed on the football field, finished drives and put touchdowns on the board and kept taking advantage of the momentum that they had,” DeBoer told reporters. “And so he’s done that. Obviously, the last two years have been, especially last year was a really great season, and you can still see those elements.

“They’ve got a lot of returners on the football field that have been there for a while now. Their top running back, receiver. Some of the same guys that we’ve seen now going back to 2024. Defensively, a lot of the guys that are the same faces that we saw last season as well. So, just momentum, continuity, that’s with players, that’s with staff. (Coach Clark Lea) He’s got a great demeanor. Obviously, that carries over to how his team feels and how they play.”

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Jared Curtis could create his own Alabama moment for Vanderbilt football

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