Vanderbilt defeats Austin Peay 28-9 as lightning ends game early

Vanderbilt defeated Austin Peay 28-9 in their season opener at FirstBank Stadium, though the game ended prematurely due to lightning. With 2:16 remaining in regulation, officials and coaches decided to conclude the contest for safety reasons.

Quarterback Blaze Berlowitz earned his first career start, recording 149 passing yards, 45 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown. Freshman Jared Curtis also saw action, appearing late in the game. While Vanderbilt's running game found success, including a touchdown by Sedrick Alexander, the passing performance drew criticism from fans.

Austin Peay managed to keep the game competitive early, briefly holding a 6-5 lead following a Vanderbilt safety and a blocked extra point return. However, Vanderbilt eventually pulled away, aided by a punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter.