As Vanderbilt’s freshman signal-caller Jared Curtis tossed an interception deep in the red zone with only 64 seconds left on the clock in Saturday’s matchup with North Carolina State, the game’s outcome appeared decided.
It seemed the highly touted former five-star recruit had committed one error too many during his debut start, with his final misstep apparently ruining the rally he had been leading. Indeed, when Curtis made that regrettable throw, the Commodores were down by a mere three points and were well within range to level the score with a field goal.
However, in a bizarre twist of fate, the script flipped entirely. Curtis found salvation through his counterpart, NC State quarterback CJ Bailey, who similarly mishandled the high-stakes situation in the final seconds of the game.
In an attempt to take an intentional safety to run down the remaining time without giving up the lead, Bailey fumbled the football in his own end zone. Vanderbilt defender Miles Capers forced the ball free, allowing Cayden Daniels to pounce on it for a game-clinching touchdown with just a single second remaining.
The crowd at FirstBank Stadium was stunned, as were college football fans nationwide. Pulling off a 35-31 victory, Vanderbilt somehow managed to cover the three-point spread despite facing 17-point deficits in both halves against NC State (1-2). A relieved Clark Lea remarked that the comeback showcased the relentless grit of his undefeated Commodores (3-0).
“Our defensive philosophy emphasizes fighting for every single blade of grass, and today, that was literally the case,” the sixth-season Vanderbilt head coach remarked during his on-field postgame interview on the SEC Network.
“Props must be given to North Carolina State. They played superior football for most of the day, but we dug deep enough at the finish to keep it within reach and apply pressure, knowing it would require every tick of the clock.
“Because of that, I am incredibly proud of how resilient our group was.”
Dave Doeren’s squad jumped out to an early 17-0 advantage by scoring on three of their opening four drives, a lead they maintained until the Commodores finally got on the scoreboard with just 12 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Regrettably for Bailey, his afternoon will be defined by that late-game gaffe. The mistake naturally eclipsed what was otherwise a stellar outing by the junior signal-caller. The imposing 6-foot-6 dual-threat athlete amassed 310 total yards, rushing for 35 and passing for 275. He delivered three touchdown strikes alongside one interception, with all three scores caught by wideout Keenan Jackson, who finished the day with nine receptions for 102 yards.
While Bailey enjoyed an explosive start, Curtis struggled initially, drawing attention for his early difficulties.
Following a shared-role situation in the opening two weeks with senior starter Blaze Berlowitz, Curtis was named the starter for this matchup. The former Georgia commit, ranked as the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2026 class by Rivals, threw a first-quarter pick that resembled a punt. On the subsequent possession in the second quarter, he lost a fumble after faking a handoff and attempting to run the ball himself.
Curtis only began to find his rhythm as the first half drew to a close, eventually sparking some big plays. By the end of the game, he had completed 20 of 34 attempts for 277 passing yards, throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions, while also adding 64 yards on the ground.
Vanderbilt registered four rushing plays of 10 yards or more, with Curtis accounting for half of them. Additionally, he connected on three throws of 33 yards or longer, highlighted by a 43-yard touchdown pass to receiver Junior Sherrill, which cut the deficit to 31-28 with 6:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sherrill completed his productive day with six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Even with their early cushion, NC State kept their foot on the gas, attempting five fourth-down conversions and succeeding on three. Doeren’s choice to concede an intentional safety was also a bold tactical gamble.
Ultimately, the move proved disastrous, sparking wild celebration and amazement on the Vanderbilt sideline.
