Vanderbilt Football Gets Off To Disaster Start Against NC State

NASHVILLE—Vanderbilt football hasn’t had much of anything go right through a quarter against NC State, which most nationally believed it would beat.

NC State leads Vanderbilt 14-0, has scored a touchdown on two of its three drives and intercepted a long pass from Jared Curtis that was intended for Vanderbilt receiver Kayleb Barnett. Curtis is 3-for-6 with 16 passing yards through the first quarter, missed Brycen Coleman on a play that could've been a long gain and was inaccurate on a crucial third-down play to tight end Jayvontay Conner.

Curtis fumbled on Vanderbilt's third offensive drive, when Vanderbilt had a short field and could've easily turned its drive into points.

Jared Curtis is picked off on a deep ball to Kayleb Barnett. What a mess for Vanderbilt thus far.

14-0, NC State.
— Joey Dwyer (@joey_dwy) September 19, 2026

Saturday serves as a litmus test for this Vanderbilt team--which had yet to face a power-five program prior to taking the field against NC State. Vanderbilt beat Austin Peay 28-9 and Delaware 35-26 in its first two games of the season while NC State was blown out by Virginia in its opener.

Vanderbilt named Curtis the starting quarterback on Tuesday, but clearly still expects some growing pains from him as he settles into leading Vanderbilt's operation consistently. Saturday is Curtis' first college start.

It appears as if Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea thought he'd get more out of his defense than he has through a quarter of play against NC State. Vanderbilt shut down Austin Peay for the entirety of the second half of its opener and found that it was able to control the game early by blitzing Delaware often.

Lea did know that NC State quarterback CJ Bailey is unlike anything his defense has seen up to this point, though.

“I think his effectiveness as a passer,” Lea said in regard to the piece of Bailey’s game that separates him. “I mean, the arm strength you see shows up. That’s really how he wants to win the game. HIs ability to extend plays in the pocket, his ability to escape outside and make it a long down. I think a lot of explosiveness comes off that.”

And, Saturday the explosiveness has manifested as Bailey has guided NC State to three 10+ yards plays. NC State backup Will Wilson also burned Vanderbilt for a 38-yard touchdown run after it appeared he was caged in the backfield on third and short.

Now, Vanderbilt looks to right the ship to avoid failing its first real litmus test of the season.

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