The quarterback picture in Knoxville is still murky heading into Tennessee’s Week 6 trip to Arkansas.
On Saturday morning, Tennessee’s updated depth chart listed Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre as co-starters for the SEC matchup, according to Tennessee insider Ryan Schumpert. That keeps the door open on who will take the first snaps against the Razorbacks after a Week 5 shakeup against Auburn.
Brandon, the No. 15 Volunteers’ 5-star true freshman, was pulled in the second quarter of the Auburn game and replaced by MacIntyre. The redshirt freshman backup then guided Tennessee to a 24-14 win over the Tigers, which immediately put the starting job back in focus.
The move has only intensified the question of how Josh Heupel will handle the position against Arkansas. Tennessee is not giving away much, at least not yet, and the co-starter designation suggests the decision could come down to game-day feel.
Brandon, a North Carolina native, arrived in Knoxville as one of the highest-rated quarterback recruits Tennessee has ever signed. He won the job over MacIntyre in fall camp, but his first five weeks have been uneven.
MacIntyre’s path has been different. He redshirted in 2025 behind former Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar, and that extra year in Heupel’s system seemed to show in the Auburn win. He looked more composed and more confident in the pocket.
Now the question is simple: which quarterback gets the first shot against Arkansas, and how long does Heupel stick with the plan?
In Other News...
Arkansas Let Another Winnable SEC Game Slip Away Again
Arkansas had enough in front of it Saturday to make No. 15 Tennessee sweat, and for stretches it looked like the Razorbacks were positioned to cash in on one of those conference games they have to turn into a win. The defense gave them a real chance, forcing three turnovers and keeping the Vols within reach long enough for Arkansas to hold a lead during the game.
But the familiar ending arrived anyway, with the offense unable to sustain enough drives or finish enough opportunities in a 24-17 loss. Third-down struggles and missed chances left the Razorbacks searching for answers again, and the defeat stretched their SEC skid to 14 straight as the gap between competitive and finished keeps showing up at the worst possible time. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Heads To Vanderbilt With One Bigger Problem Looming
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Now comes Vanderbilt, a matchup that looks manageable if Arkansas keeps trending in the right direction. The bigger challenge may be less about the opponent and more about what the Razorbacks are still trying to become, as a roster full of new faces and a staff still taking shape works to build cohesion fast enough to turn one encouraging effort into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Fans Still Wont Agree On Silverfields Late Punt Logic
Ryan Silverfields late-game punt against Tennessee is still the kind of call Arkansas fans are replaying long after the final whistle. Faced with a fourth-and-10 situation, the Razorbacks coach chose field position over a risky try at the line to gain, and the decision immediately lit up social media and the broader fan base watching a game that already had enough tension on the sideline.
Silverfield said the choice came down to the distance, Arkansas struggles on previous third-down snaps, and the danger of handing Tennessee a short field and an easy path to points. He also made it clear the calculus would have changed with a shorter situation, which only sharpens the debate for fans who wanted more aggression in the moment and others who saw the punt as the safer football call. [Read more 🡒]