Josh Heupel isn’t tipping his hand on Tennessee’s quarterback situation, and after the way the last few weeks have gone, that silence matters.
The Vols are coming off a loss to South Carolina in which George MacIntyre’s fourth-quarter mistakes helped swing the game, and now the question hanging over Knoxville is whether Tennessee will make another change before Kentucky comes to town next weekend.
Asked about the position on Wednesday, Heupel gave away almost nothing.
“They’re both practicing, and practiced well today,” Heupel told the media in Knoxville.
Tennessee’s quarterback picture has already been a moving target this season. Faizon Brandon was benched in October, and MacIntyre stepped in to make three starts. But after two costly errors late against South Carolina, the door is open for another shakeup.
The Vols’ offseason path at quarterback helps explain how they got here. Tennessee was unable to get an extra year of eligibility for Joey Aguilar and also missed on Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt in the portal.
That left the job to a former five-star high school recruit, with Nico Iamaleava having previously helped guide Tennessee to the playoffs in 2024 after sitting for a year. Brandon was then forced into action in year one before being benched, and now MacIntyre is under the microscope after his own rough stretch.
The numbers show just how unsettled things have been. Brandon has made five starts and completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 6.9 yards per attempt, with seven passing touchdowns, one interception and 236 non-sack rushing yards. He has also fumbled six times, according to PFF data.
MacIntyre has started three games and completed 67 percent of his passes for 7.1 yards per attempt, but he has only one passing touchdown and just two non-sack rushing yards. The class of 2025 recruit has thrown two interceptions and lost four fumbles. In the four games where he has gotten extended snaps, Tennessee has committed eight turnovers.
That turnover problem sits at the center of Tennessee’s offensive issues. In SEC games only, the Vols rank near the bottom of the league in scoring at No. 11, red zone touchdown percentage at No. 13, plays of 20-plus yards at No. 13, yards per play at No.
15, QB rating at No. 15, yards per pass attempt at No. 15 and third down conversion rate at No. 15.
Tennessee still hasn’t scored more than 24 points in an SEC game.
For now, Heupel is keeping the competition quiet. Whether that stays true through the bye week is the next question.
In Other News...
Former Kentucky Players Are Making Some Departures Look A Lot Different
The transfer era has turned former Kentucky football players into a familiar presence across the FBS landscape, and the 2026 season has only widened that footprint. A new rundown shows 38 ex-Wildcats now suiting up for other major programs, with the list stretching across positions and spotlighting everything from steady contributors to players carving out bigger roles than they had in Lexington.
What makes the inventory so interesting from Kentuckys side is not just how many names are out there, but how differently their paths have played out once they left. Some have settled into meaningful playing time, others have chipped in statistically, and a few are still searching for a larger foothold at their new schools, leaving the broader picture of those departures more complicated than it first looked. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Could Get A Quiet Resume Boost From Oklahoma-South Carolina
Kentuckys own path is still the one that matters most, but the Wildcats could pick up a subtle resume lift from a game they are not playing. With three SEC road wins already in hand and two more road chances left at Tennessee and Missouri, Kentucky has some room to strengthen its case, and the upcoming Oklahoma-South Carolina matchup could quietly help by adding another quality result to the league ledger.
The stakes there are simple enough: the winner could move to 8-4 and stay in the rankings conversation, which would make Kentuckys strength of schedule look better when the committee starts sorting through the SEC pileup. Both Oklahoma and South Carolina have already taken down ranked teams and still face difficult finishes, so their meeting carries more weight than a typical late-season conference game, especially for a Kentucky team trying to build every possible edge. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Missed On A Top 2027 Target With Bigger Implications
Kentucky spent part of its early 2027 recruiting work trying to land one of the classs biggest prizes, but DeMarcus Henry is headed elsewhere. The No. 2 overall prospect and top small forward in the cycle has committed to North Carolina after narrowing his choice to the Wildcats, Louisville and Arkansas, following official visits to each school.
For Kentucky, the miss is more than a single recruiting loss because Henry was the kind of elite wing talent that can shape a class and set the tone for future pursuits. He ultimately pointed to his admiration for coach Michael Malone and the Tar Heels vision as the deciding factors, leaving Kentucky to regroup as it continues chasing premium prospects in a class where the margin for error is thin. [Read more 🡒]