# SEC Football: Vanderbilt Commodores Defeats NC State Wolfpack 35-31

**Published:** 2026-09-19 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield
**Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/vanderbilt-commodores-defeat-nc-state-wolfpack-35-31

**Teams:** [Vanderbilt](https://secscouts.com/vanderbilt/)


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (09/17/2026) — The Vanderbilt Commodores held off the NC State Wolfpack 35-31 on Thursday night at FirstBank Stadium, surviving three turnovers behind a 409-yard offensive performance and a three-touchdown night from Jared Curtis.

The four-point margin tells the story of a game that stayed within reach for NC State throughout, but Vanderbilt did enough in the moments that mattered to close out a non-conference win at home and keep its early-season momentum intact.

## How It Happened

Vanderbilt's offense was the engine of the night. The Commodores piled up 409 total yards, splitting the workload between a 277-yard passing attack and 132 yards on the ground. That balance kept NC State's defense from keying on one phase, and it showed up in the possession count: Vanderbilt moved the chains for 20 first downs and converted five third downs.

The passing game ran through Curtis, who threw for 277 yards on a night when Vanderbilt completed 20 of 34 attempts. Three of those completions ended in the end zone, and the Commodores needed every one of them in a game where NC State kept answering.

The Commodores did not have the ball as much as the final yardage might suggest. Vanderbilt controlled the clock for just 24:11, which means NC State owned the possession battle. Part of that came from Vanderbilt's own mistakes — three turnovers handed the Wolfpack extra opportunities and kept the game tight deep into the second half. A 35-point output on limited possession time speaks to how efficiently Vanderbilt struck when it had the ball.

On the other side, Vanderbilt's defense had to hold up under those circumstances, and Nick Rinaldi delivered a sack that helped the Commodores get off the field at a key juncture. Brock Taylor added five points on the night, rounding out a scoring line that reached 35 without relying solely on the touchdown passes.

## Turning Point

With Vanderbilt turning the ball over three times and holding possession for less than half the game, the decisive stretch came down to the Commodores' ability to convert their possessions into points at a higher rate than NC State did. Curtis' third touchdown pushed Vanderbilt to 35, and the defense made that number stand up against a Wolfpack offense that reached 31 and kept threatening for more.

In a game decided by four points, the difference was Vanderbilt turning fewer possessions into more scores. Rinaldi's sack was the kind of negative play that stalls a drive, and against an opponent that was moving the ball, one stalled drive was the margin.

## Star of the Game

Jared Curtis earns the nod. His 277 yards and three touchdowns powered an offense that needed to be explosive rather than methodical, and with Vanderbilt holding the ball for only 24:11, Curtis' ability to turn drives into touchdowns quickly was the reason the Commodores never fell out of reach.

The 20-of-34 passing line reflects an aggressive approach — Vanderbilt was pushing the ball downfield rather than settling for short gains, and the 277 yards on 20 completions works out to nearly 14 yards per catch. That kind of chunk production is what allowed Vanderbilt to score 35 points despite losing the possession battle.

## What It Means

For Vanderbilt, this is a win that comes with a clear to-do list. The offense proved it can generate 400-plus yards and score 35, but three turnovers against an SEC opponent will be a far heavier burden than they were against NC State. The Commodores also need to close the possession gap; a 24:11 time of possession puts too much pressure on the defense over a full conference schedule.

Still, a win is a win, and Vanderbilt is building a resume. Curtis is producing at a level that gives the Commodores a chance in any game, and the running game contributed 132 yards to keep defenses balanced. If the ball security tightens up, this offense has the pieces to be a problem.

For NC State, the Wolfpack leave Nashville with a tough loss that will sting precisely because it was winnable. Vanderbilt turned the ball over three times and NC State still could not get over the top. Scoring 31 points on the road against an SEC team is a positive sign for the Wolfpack offense, but the defense allowed 409 yards and 35 points, and that combination will not hold up week to week.

Vanderbilt moves forward with the win and a set of correctable issues. NC State heads home with proof it can trade scores with an SEC opponent, but also with a four-point reminder of how thin the margin is when the other side makes the plays that count.

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*Original article: [SEC Football: Vanderbilt Commodores Defeats NC State Wolfpack 35-31](https://secscouts.com/news/vanderbilt-commodores-defeat-nc-state-wolfpack-35-31) — SEC Scouts*