Game 2: Vanderbilt (1-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Delaware (1-0, 0-0 CUSA)
When: Saturday, Sept. 12 • 3:15 p.m.
Where: FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: SEC Netowrk (Dave Neal, Cole Cubelic and Tori Petry
Listen: 102.5 The Game (Andrew Allegretta, Norman Jordan and Kevin Ingram)
GAME PREVIEW
• Vanderbilt hosts Delaware on Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in what will mark the first meeting between the two schools.
• After going undefeated at home last season, Vanderbilt has won eight home contests in a row for the first time since a nine-game stretch that spanned the 1954, 1955 and 1956 seasons.
• With a sellout crowd of 35,000 at the home opener last week, Vandy has sold out five consecutive home games dating back to last season.
• Vanderbilt will be Delaware’s first-ever SEC opponent.
LAST TIME OUT
• Vanderbilt football opened the 2026 campaign with a 28-9 victory over Austin Peay in front of a sold-out crowd at FirstBank Stadium.
• The Commodores delivered strong performances on defense and special teams. Vandy returned a blocked PAT for two points in the first quarter and added a 27-yard punt return for a score in the third quarter.
• Additionally, the Dores held the Governors to 178 total yards.
• Graduate Blaze Berlowitz made the most of his first collegiate start, combining for 194 total yards and posting a quarterback rating of 147.0.
• Berlowitz ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter and connected on 11 of his 16 passing attempts, as nine different Commodores had at least one catch.
• Graduate Issa Ouattara made his presence felt in a big way in his return to the field after missing all but one game last season.
• The Cologne, Germany, native had his first career multi-sack game, with 2.0 sacks, and blocked a PAT, which Martel Hight picked up and returned 88 yards to give Vandy two points.
• Vanderbilt has won five consecutive home openers entering after the season-opening win over Austin Peay.
MARRIED TO THE GAME
• Sedrick Alexander’s 27 total touchdowns rank third in program history. He recorded his 22nd career rushing score in the opener against Austin Peay, moving him into fourth on Vandy’s all-time rushing touchdown list.
• The Texan carried the ball into the end zone 11 times in 2025, sixth-most in a season by a Commodore.
• Alexander added four receiving touchdowns last fall for 90 total points, fourth-most in a season at Vandy.
• The senior has totaled 1,584 yards on the ground for his career while adding 575 through the air.
• His 1,469 snaps entering the season were the most of any returning running back at the NCAA FBS level.
SHERRILL STRIKES
• Junior Sherrill is Vanderbilt’s top returning receiver after finishing the 2025 season with career-high totals of 54 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Sherrill’s first catch in the opener against Austin Peay put him over 1,500 career receiving yards. The senior finished the night with four catches for 70 yards.
• Sherrill was tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns and ranked second in receptions and receiving yards in 2025.
• The wideout totaled a career-best 123 receiving yards on eight catches against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
• Sherrill’s next touchdown reception will give him 14 in his career and move him into the top 10 all-time at Vandy.
• The Nashvillian has made at least one catch in 38 straight games.
THE D-LINE
• Vanderbilt returns a lot of experience on the defensive line.
• Miles Capers started all 13 games for the Commodores last season, finishing with 40 tackles including 9.5 for a loss of 60 yards. He led the Commodores in TFLs and with 4.5 sacks, adding five QB hurries.
• The Dores also return Issa Ouattara, who missed most of 2025 due to injury. A native of Germany, Ouattara was named a team captain for the second year in a row ahead of the 2026 campaign.
• Ouattara made an immediate impact in his return to the field against Austin Peay. His two sacks were a career high in both sacks and TFLs and he blocked a PAT which was returned for two points.
TEAM 6
• Head coach Clark Lea is in his sixth season at the helm of the Commodores, who are coming off the program’s first ever 10-win season in 2025.
• The 2026 roster features 14 returners (eight on defense, six on offense) with five or more career starts at Vanderbilt.
• The Commodores received eight votes in the Preseason AP Top 25 poll and 37 votes in the US LBM coaches’ poll.
• Vandy’s schedule includes four games against ranked opponents, two against current top-10 teams.