LEXINGTON, KY ― Vanderbilt football is still stuck in neutral.
The Commodores (3-5, 0-5 SEC) made progress in some ways in a 34-17 loss to Kentucky on Oct. 24. Jared Curtis had one of his best games through most of the first three quarters, though his performance was soured by two late turnovers, one fumble and an interception.
Vanderbilt has lost five straight games and won't be favored in any of its remaining contests. It's looking like another lost season for the Commodores.
Here are three final thoughts:
Inability to force turnovers is hurting Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt has committed 14 turnovers in 2026, and 10 in SEC play − seven interceptions and three fumbles. During SEC play, the Commodores have picked up just two interceptions and no fumbles, for a minus-8 turnover margin.
It's near impossible
to win games in the SEC that way. And while some turnovers from Jared Curtis were to be expected given he's a true freshman still learning the game, the inability to force turnovers has really hurt.
Some of it is luck. Vanderbilt has dropped multiple interceptions this season, including one against Kentucky. But it's also a factor of the Commodores' inability to get pressure on the quarterback. Most of Curtis' turnovers have come when he's under duress.
Is Vanderbilt over-emphasizing speed?
Going into the Kentucky game, on Oct. 22, Lea mentioned that Vanderbilt had put up good speed readings on the GPS during practice. It wasn't the first time this season that Lea has used that refrain as evidence of a good week, but that speed is not showing up in games.
Lea and the rest of the football staff care about speed for good reason. It's a foundational skill in football. But that also might be the problem.
When Lea hired Barton Simmons from 247Sports, part of the idea was to find players who may have been overlooked by other schools and by the same recruiting services Simmons used to work for. Essentially, to play moneyball.
Moneyball can work. The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series, with each valuing skills like defense and opposite-field hitting. Shea Ralph built a powerhouse women's basketball team in a league that valued big post players by seeking out smaller, but athletic guards. And Vanderbilt isn't as poorly resourced as it used to be, though there are other structural issues, including the program's history and academic restrictions.
But valuing speed isn't playing moneyball, because every team wants fast players. The top teams are getting the best fast players, and the ones that are left often have flaws. It doesn't help that Vanderbilt lost a recruiting battle to Indiana for a speedy receiver in its backyard, Charlie Becker, before Indiana got good.
It may be time for the Commodores' staff to find other traits that may be conducive to football success. Like Ralph with small guards, zigging where everyone else zags may be the key to re-gaining success.
A decision that went overlooked vs Kentucky
Late in the second quarter, Vanderbilt gave up the lead for the first time. The Wildcats got the go-ahead touchdown with 24 seconds left, and the Commodores had one timeout.
Vanderbilt opted to kneel out the ball and go to halftime rather than run a play. But Kentucky was set to get the ball out of halftime, and they ultimately scored a touchdown on that drive.
Hindsight is 20/20, but Lea has typically been one of the more aggressive SEC coaches when it comes to going for it on fourth down and he made a mistake not being more aggressive here. Brock Taylor has good range, and Vanderbilt had enough time with the timeout to try to get a field goal or go for a Hail Mary with Curtis' arm strength that could have gotten the Commodores within striking distance before the half.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Breaking down three issues with Vanderbilt football as losing streak hits five games
