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2025 was perhaps the greatest year in Vanderbilt sports history. Both men’s and women’s basketball played in March Madness, baseball secured an SEC Tournament title, football finished with a program-record 10 wins and soccer marched all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. For a school that has long been overlooked in the SEC, Vanderbilt proved that it can compete at the highest level.
As the calendar flips to 2026, it begs the question: What is in store for Vanderbilt athletics in the new year? The Hustler staff made seven bold predictions for 2026.
Prediction #1: Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball wins the SEC and makes it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
Following a year in which 14 of 16 SEC teams received an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, the conference seems to be having a relative down year. Last year, the Commodores went 20-13 (8-10 in SEC play) and earned a 10-seed before falling to Saint Mary’s in the first round. This year, things are looking a bit different.
Tyler Tanner’s sophomore leap, Duke Miles’s emergence as the team’s lead scorer and Tyler Nickel’s recent explosion led the team to an undefeated record through its nonconference slate. The ‘Dores are riding a 13-game unbeaten streak into their first SEC matchup against South Carolina, who experts picked to finish last in the conference before the season began. If they can start off conference play strong and keep success rolling over the next couple of months, the Commodores should reign as SEC regular-season champions and clinch a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. With the help of some quality tournament wins and an upset or two, this team has the potential to make it all the way to the Elite Eight.
– Tristan Rutman, Sports Podcast Producer
Prediction #2: Jared Curtis has a breakout year and throws for 3,000-plus yards.
I’m high on Jared Curtis, to say the least. After spending hours breaking down his high school film, I feel confident that the freshman quarterback has what it takes to compete in the SEC. The consensus five-star recruit flipped from Georgia to Vanderbilt just 24 hours before signing day in early December, and the buzz among the media and fans has been nonstop ever since. He’s considered the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2026 class for good reason; his arm projects as the best in the entire class, and he’s got a prototypical frame (standing at 6’4, 225 pounds) with unique athleticism. The only knock on Curtis is that his high school competition was very weak (Division II-A), so it may take him some time to adjust to the athleticism and speed of the SEC. That said, he’s enrolling early and will have the entire spring to get used to the pace of college football in practices.
I’m not saying that Curtis is going to be a Heisman winner in his first year on West End, but I do think that he’ll consistently hit the deep ball and rack up more than 3,000 passing yards on the season; 36 quarterbacks in FBS (22 of which were in Power Four conferences) hit that mark in the 2025 season. Curtis will certainly have his fair share of freshman moments throughout the season — expect some poor decision-making at times — but his ceiling is sky-high.
– Henry Oelhafen, Sports Editor
Prediction #3: Vanderbilt Men’s Golf makes the match-play round in the NCAA Tournament.
Vanderbilt Men’s Golf had an incredibly disappointing end to its 2024-25 season, unable to contend for a championship with now professionals Jackson Van Paris and Gordon Sargent. However, with an array of fresh faces, head coach Scott Limbaugh’s group is now ranked No. 3 in the country heading into the second half of its season. The team won both the Bryson Invitational and the Carmel Cup this fall, while tying for first place at the prestigious Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational.
The Commodores’ starting five is perhaps the most formidable in the sport, led by senior Wells Williams, who placed in the top 10 in each of the team’s fall tournaments. Sophomore Ryan Downes is also emerging as one of the better underclassmen in the nation after winning an individual title at the Bryson. Freshmen Michael Riebe and Jon Ed Steed have flashed their potential as well. This team is incredibly deep and should certainly make the match-play round of the NCAA Tournament, which includes the top eight placing teams. They may even make a run for the program’s first national championship.
– Eli Landers, Deputy Sports Editor
Prediction #4: Mikayla Blakes wins the Wade Trophy, awarded annually to the best player in women’s college basketball.
Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball is off to an impressive 13-0 start, jumping to No. 12 in the most recent AP poll. Mikayla Blakes is the driving factor in the Commodores’ undefeated 2025-26 campaign, improving by virtually every metric from her historic freshman season. The sophomore is ranked No. 4 nationally in points per game (23.9) and has scored at least 20 points in 9 of 13 games. Blakes makes her presence known on both ends of the court: being a three-level scorer who is also ranked No. 6 in the country in steals.
Blakes is no stranger to winning major awards, having taken home the USBWA National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year honors last season. The arrival of first-year point guard Aubrey Galvin has allowed Blakes to play more off the ball, enabling her to capitalize on cleaner looks and prioritize scoring.
Blakes’ minutes (31.3) are expected to rise with SEC play underway, and more crunch-time opportunities should boost her overall production. Shea Ralph’s team is equipped to make a deep tournament run, and its superstar has the potential to win the most prestigious award in women’s college basketball.
– Jack Frutkin, Deputy Sports Editor
Prediction #5: Braden Holcomb and Brodie Johnston change Vanderbilt Baseball’s power narrative.
Vanderbilt Baseball head coach Tim Corbin has always emphasized hard contact and bat-to-ball skills over the power-hitting that the modern game has become known for — and he has found sustained success in doing so. However, in their past four seasons, the ‘Dores have struggled in the postseason, failing to advance to a super regional series. They seem to be missing a 20-plus home run hitter, something that their most recent national championship team had in 2019.
Senior Braden Holcomb and sophomore Brodie Johnston can be the difference-makers for Vanderbilt this season. Holcomb is very likely to start in center field after having a hard time getting into the lineup for three years. The Orlando, Fla., native got hot in the latter half of SEC play last year, finishing his season with a .275 average, 32 runs and 15 extra-base hits (9 home runs). In addition, Johnston led all SEC freshmen with 30 extra-base hits and was second with 55 RBIs, despite missing several games with a fractured hand. These two are poised for a breakout season, and if even one of them plays to his ceiling, Vanderbilt might just have one of the best power hitters in the conference.
– Grace Hall, Deputy Sports Editor
Prediction #6: Vanderbilt Football’s recent growth will slow under a young Jared Curtis.
It is difficult to be a successful quarterback in college football today, and exponentially harder if you don’t have experience. There were only two true freshman quarterbacks on Power Four teams in this year’s final AP poll: Michigan’s Bryce Underwood and BYU’s Bear Bachmeier. Both of these teams failed to make the College Football Playoff despite talented supporting casts. The results differ significantly for older quarterbacks: Every team in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, except Ohio State, entered the season with a quarterback who was a junior or older.
Jared Curtis is a fantastic player, and his decision to stay in Nashville reflects the impactful work done by Clark Lea and Candice Storey Lee to rebuild and develop the program. But Commodore Nation must give Curtis time to grow as well. While Vanderbilt might not be in contention for a College Football Playoff spot at the end of next year, it will be on the precipice of much greater things. Give a talented young quarterback time to mature with a program behind him, and the results will be well worth the wait.
– Charlie Siegel, Senior Sports Analyst
Prediction #7: Vanderbilt’s pitching staff leads baseball back to a super regional for the first time since 2021.
Vanderbilt baseball enters the 2026 season with a clear sense of urgency after last year’s early exit in the Nashville Regional as the No. 1 overall seed. It was a disappointing end for a talented roster, but Corbin’s 2026 squad appears constructed to clear the elusive regional hurdle that’s lingered over it for the past five seasons. That’s largely due to its personnel on the mound.
Vanderbilt led the country in strikeouts per nine innings in 2025, and much of that production returns with Austin Nye and Connor Fennell back to anchor Vanderbilt’s rotation after their breakout seasons. The bullpen returns key arms in Luke Guth, Alex Kranzler and Matthew Shorey — all of whom are also potential candidates for the Sunday starting spot.
That experienced core is paired with one of the most talented freshman pitching classes in the country. Southpaw Aiden Stillman headlines the group, but Tyler Baird may be the most intriguing starting option after an impressive fall. Wyatt Nadeau has flashed triple-digit velocity, while Nate Schlote and Connor Hamilton should contribute out of the bullpen along with Georgia transfer Nate Taylor. Despite losing JD Thompson and Cody Bowker to the MLB draft, the Commodore pitching staff looks deeper and more dynamic than last season and projects to be capable of driving a postseason breakthrough.
– Dylan Tovitz, Staff Writer
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Vandydan • Jan 9, 2026 at 10:11 am CST
I think you underestimate the ceiling of the Vandyboys. I predict we will be in Omaha in June as as participants.
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Bold predictions for Vanderbilt Athletics in 2026 – The Vanderbilt Hustler
