Arkansas at Vanderbilt: Game Central Rundown, Injury Updates and Depth Chart – Sports Illustrated

In this story:
NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt’s season could be in the balance tonight as it faces off against Arkansas.
The Commodores have dropped three games in a row and are looking to get back into the win column. They were once 3-0 but are now 3-3. Losing a fourth in a row with a tough road ahead for the final five games would make reaching bowl eligibility a very steep climb.
Vanderbilt is playing for more than just getting back in the win column. It is playing to get its confidence back and to prove to itself that it is the team that it believes it is. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea was careful to define this game as the season, knowing five games still lie ahead after today. 
But the crucialness of Vanderbilt’s game Saturday night cannot be understated.
Vanderbilt and Arkansas are scheduled to kickoff at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Here is all the information you need to know before tonight’s kickoff.
If a player goes down during the game, we'll keep tabs on it and share any and all updates.
– The biggest injury news for Vanderbilt this week was head coach Clark Lea announcing backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz being out for a month with a broken collarbone. In addition to that, Lea announced that rotational offensive lineman Gunner Givens is having season-ending hip surgery. Offensive lineman Mitchell Smith will be out today as well. Vanderbilt is hoping Smith will be after the bye week.
– Vanderbilt will also be missing safety Dontae Carter as well as cornerback Jaylin Lackey, linebacker Jamison Curtis and wide receiver Kahden Smith.
–Vanderbilt EDGE Brian Allen Jr. and defensive lineman Hayden Bray have been upgraded from questionable to probable going into tonight’s game. Thursday, Lea expressed plenty of hope that both would play.
Who: Arkansas (2-4) vs. Vanderbilt (3-3)
When: Saturday, Oct.17, 6 p.m. CT
Where: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
TV: ESPN2
Series History: Arkansas leads Vanderbilt 7-3 all-time.
Last time out, Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt dropped its third consecutive game of the season, losing to No. 9 Ole Miss 52-17.
Last time out, Arkansas: Arkansas is coming off a tough loss at home to a ranked Tennessee team by a score of 24-17.
Weather: Vanderbilt and Arkansas will be playing in some true football weather tonight. According to the Nashville forecast, it is projected to be 58 degrees at kickoff as the sun begins to go down. By the end of the night, temperatures will drop into the low 50s and high 40s.
Spread: Vanderbilt -5.5 points
Over/Under: 50.5 points
Source: FanDuel Sportsbook
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER
Vanderbilt football sits at a crossroads going into this game. Win and Vanderbilt has a chance to salvage its season. Lose and the Commodores will have their fourth straight loss and be under .500 with a tough schedule remaining. Read Joey Dwyer’s column on the importance of today’s game.
Vanderbilt has had an issue with penalties all season. The Commodores have committed the sixth-most penalties in all of college football. Clark Lea has been addressing that with his team this week. Read Graham Baakko’s story on Lea’s solution to his team’s penalty problems.
With Blaze Berlowitz being out for about a month with a broken collarbone, the Commodores have Whit Muschamp and Jack Elliott to back up Jared Curtis. Read what Clark Lea said on who will go out on the field first if Curtis was unable to go in the time Berlowitz is out.
QB: Jared Curtis, Whit Muschamp or Jack Elliott
RB: Sedrick Alexander or MK Young, Jamezell Lassiter
X Receiver: Junior Sherrill, Joseph McVay
Y Receiver: Ja’Cory Thomas, Brycen Coleman, Claiborne Richards
Z Receiver: Tristen Brown, Cole Adams
Tight End: Cole Spence, Gabe Fisher, Maurice Veney
Tight End: Jayvontay Conner, Walter Taylor
Quick Tackle: Clinton Azubuike or CJ Williams
Quick Guard: Cade McConnell, Kevo Wesley, Ted Gregoire
Center: Lyndon Cooper, Keegan Wechsler
Strong Guard: Orion Irving, Micah DeBose
Strong Tackle: Beau Johnson, Mitchell Smith
EDGE: Edwin Kolenge, Brian Allen Jr., Hayden Bray
Defensive Tackle: Issa Ouattara, Bradley Mann or Talan Carter
Defensive Tackle: Glenn Seabrooks III or Jaylon Stone, Mike Diatta
Razor: Miles Capers, Mason Carter, Jake Stanish
Linebacker: Nick Rinaldi, Bryce Cowan, Josiah Broxton
Linebacker: Bryan Longwell, Bryce Cowan, Austin Howard
STAR: Mason Lewis, Carson Lawrence, Jailen Ruth
Cornerback: Martel Hight, Davin Chandler, Jaylin Davies
Cornerback: Jordan Matthews, Cayden Daniels, Bishop Starling
Safety: Ricardo Jones, Dontae Carter
Safety: CJ Heard, Jalen Gilbert, Vanzale Hinton
Follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest news.
Graham Baakko is a writer for Vanderbilt Commodores On SI, primarily covering football, basketball and baseball. Graham is a recent graduate from the University of Alabama, where he wrote for The Crimson White, WVUA-FM, WVUA 23 as he covered a variety of Crimson Tide sports. He also covered South Carolina athletics as a sportswriting intern for GamecockCentral.
© 2026 ABG-SI LLC – SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. – All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates, licensees and related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

source