Three Matchups to Watch: Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss – The Vanderbilt Hustler

Natasha V. Sachs named assistant vice chancellor and executive director of Vanderbilt University– West Palm Beach
Natasha V. Sachs named assistant vice chancellor and executive director of Vanderbilt University– West Palm Beach
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Vanderbilt returns to Nashville after a challenging two-game road stretch. The Commodores are coming off a 38-14 loss against No. 2 Georgia. 
This Week 6 matchup will be critical in defining the remainder of the Commodores’ SEC slate. Ole Miss is looking to shake off its first loss of the season after losing in Gainesville to No. 16 Florida. The Rebels hold the all-time record over the Commodores 41-39, and they have won each of the last five matchups. ESPN gives Vanderbilt a 28.5% chance of victory for Saturday’s game. 
Junior Sherill has been dominating lately, recording 305 yards and three touchdowns in his last three games. The senior has developed a strong connection with both Jared Curtis and Blaze Berlowitz, demonstrating his high-level route running and ability to make contested catches. However, nobody else has emerged as a vertical threat on the opposite side of the field. Behind Sherill’s team-leading 474 receiving yards, no one else has more than 130. If either Tristen Brown or Ja’Cory Thomas can step up and take some pressure off Sherrill, the Commodores could expose an Ole Miss defense that has been lackluster as of late. Thomas had two big catches against Georgia that went for 43 yards, but the ‘Dores also have other players that could step up. Receiver Tristen Brown played an emergent role against NC State, bringing in four catches for 81 yards.  
The Rebels’ defense struggled during its last showing, giving up a whopping 52 points to the Gators. While most of the damage was done on the ground, pass defense is still proving an issue; Ole Miss is giving up an average of 210 yards per game through the air. Besides their dominant win over Charlotte, the Rebels have given up at least 24 points each game. If the Commodores can exploit this weakness, it will go a long way in changing the outcome of the contest.  
Trinidad Chambliss is the centerpiece of the Ole Miss offense. This season, the quarterback posted over 1,200 yards through the air and eight passing touchdowns, and he added another four rushing touchdowns combined with 108 yards on the ground. Chambliss’ combination of elite arm strength, accuracy and ability to escape pressure with his legs make him a threat to any defense. He was a major bright spot against Florida, as he almost threw for 300 yards in the loss. 
The elite play of Chambliss is going to put pressure on Vanderbilt’s elite safety duo. After leading the team last year in tackles, CJ Heard has produced a strong start to his 2026 campaign, highlighted by a dominant performance against Delaware. His counterpart is Ricardo Jones, who had been a critical player for the Commodores after transferring from Clemson, where he led the ACC in interceptions. Jones’ season has been highlighted by a crucial pass breakup against NC State that forced a turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter, giving the Commodores the ball back for their final possession before their miraculous victory. The play of these two safeties will have a big impact on the game’s result, especially if they can limit Chambliss both through the air and on the ground. 
The biggest question for the Commodores is the health of Jared Curtis after the late announcement that he was unable to play versus Georgia. Berlowitz totaled 227 yards of offense against the Bulldogs, including launching a 60-yard touchdown to Junior Sherill at the end of the first quarter. Curtis won the starting job by Week 3 and has showed flashes of high potential in his playing time this season. However, his knee bruise suffered against Auburn could limit his mobility. The 19-year-old practiced Tuesday, which is a positive sign that he may be trending towards availability. 
Kewan Lacy, the Rebels’ star running back, is another injury situation that could prove impactful. Lacy suffered a shoulder injury in the team’s win over LSU and sat out of last week’s contest. This season, the running back has rushed for 191 yards and four touchdowns, averaging almost 5 yards per carry. He is also trending toward playing, providing a difficult test for Vanderbilt’s defensive front, who will be forced to win in the trenches. 
Vanderbilt will host Ole Miss this Saturday, Oct. 10, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CDT.  
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