Josh Heupel appears to have found a steadier answer at quarterback after Tennessee’s 24-14 win over Auburn in Week 5, and the change is already carrying into the Vols’ next game.
After true freshman Faizon Brandon was benched in the second quarter on Rocky Top, Heupel turned to George MacIntyre and got the kind of game-management performance he needed. That was enough for the Tennessee coach to name MacIntyre the starter for Week 6 against Arkansas at Razorback Stadium, according to On3’s Peter Nakos and Chris Low.
Heupel’s halftime comments made the pivot feel even more inevitable.
“Faizon just wasn’t operating,” Heupel told ESPN’s Stormy Buonantony on his way to the locker room on Saturday (h/t On3). “He didn’t feel 100%. George came in, did some positive things."
Tennessee didn’t need MacIntyre to light up the scoreboard. The heavy lifting came from running back DeSean Bishop, who ripped Auburn’s defense apart after halftime. Bishop piled up 150 of his 220 rushing yards in the second half and scored all three of his touchdowns in that stretch, helping Tennessee pull away.
MacIntyre, meanwhile, kept things moving without much drama. He completed eight passes and mostly kept the offense on schedule against a defense that has been struggling under DJ Durkin, even while linebackers Xavier Atkins and Elijah Melendez continue to flash.
Arkansas should offer Tennessee an easier matchup to manage, which makes MacIntyre a sensible option if Heupel wants less volatility under center. Brandon, for all his upside, brings more variance - the kind that can matter more later in the season against teams like Alabama and LSU.
Auburn’s defense, though, is leaving behind a different kind of story. Week after week, opponents are using the Tigers as a stage to make themselves look better.
Bishop did it. Jadan Baugh did it.
Aaron Philo and MacIntyre did it at quarterback.
The pattern is becoming hard to ignore. Auburn is not setting the tone in SEC play; it’s absorbing it. Other teams are figuring things out against the Tigers, and that’s especially notable given the way Auburn’s makeshift offensive line has invited strong defensive performances from opponents.
What stands out even more is the lack of resistance when opposing stars start rolling. That’s the part that keeps raising the same uncomfortable question about Durkin’s defense: why pay so much for this performance?
Auburn now heads into its bye week with Georgia waiting in Week 7, and the Tigers have little margin for uncertainty. If they still don’t know who they are by the time the Dawgs arrive, the result could get ugly fast.
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Jackson Arnold Is Giving Auburn Fans An Uncomfortable New Comparison
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Arnold has been productive for the Rebels in a way he never quite managed at Auburn, piling up 1,063 passing yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions while adding 270 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. UNLV is 3-2, and his early surge has only sharpened the uncomfortable comparison for Auburn supporters who watched his 2025 season in orange and blue end without this kind of efficiency. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Offensive Line Search Could Open The Door For Two Young Linemen
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For a group still searching for stability, that kind of turnover can be frustrating, but it also keeps the door open for younger players to carve out a role. Head coach Alex Golesh said the Tigers will keep leaning into opportunities for sophomores Kail Ellis and Deryc Plazz when they can bring an advantage, which suggests the battle for playing time on the line is far from settled as Auburn keeps sorting through its best combinations. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Fans Are Split On The Direction John Cohen Is Taking
John Cohens fourth year running Auburn athletics has given fans a pretty clear sense of his priorities, even if they do not all agree with them. He has already overseen multiple coaching hires, including two football coaches, while the department has pushed ahead with facility upgrades and looked for fresh revenue streams, including the decision to move a football game to Atlanta as part of NIL opportunities.
Among Auburn supporters, the reaction has been mixed. Some point to the progress in non-football sports and the fundraising momentum as signs the athletic department is moving in the right direction, while others remain frustrated by the football choices and uneasy about taking games out of state. For a fan base that tends to measure everything through the lens of football, Cohens approach has become one of the more debated topics around the program. [Read more 🡒]