Furman is making a change under center before its Week 1 trip to Tennessee, and the Paladins are turning to Jake Garcia.
The school announced that Garcia will start at quarterback against the Volunteers, who open their 2026 season in Neyland Stadium less than three weeks from now. Tennessee enters as the heavy favorite, helped by its elite receiving core, returning starters on defense and a strong offensive line, among other advantages.
The Vols will also be without star linebacker Arion Carter, who is suspended for the first two games of the season.
Garcia brings a winding résumé to the matchup. A California native, he was viewed as a five-star prospect for much of his high school recruiting cycle and was ranked as high as the 23rd-overall player in the country and the 3rd-overall quarterback by ESPN.
He began his college career at Miami, where he saw limited action as a true freshman but made the most of it, going 11-for-14 for two touchdowns in a blowout win. As a redshirt freshman, he played in eight games and started a win over Virginia Tech, though his overall production was uneven.
After that season, Garcia entered the transfer portal and committed to Missouri. He competed with Brady Cook and Sam Horn for the starting job, but Cook won the battle and Garcia did not play a snap for the Tigers.
He transferred again after that, landing at East Carolina. In his lone season there, he threw for eight touchdowns and added two rushing scores.
Garcia moved on to Michigan after the season, where he appeared in just one game last year. With one year of eligibility left, he entered the portal again and ultimately landed at Furman.
For the Paladins, Garcia gives them a quarterback with rare Power Five starting experience at the FCS level and nearly five years in college football. Tennessee still has the edge on paper almost everywhere, but Garcia’s track record makes him a quarterback worth watching when the teams meet in Week 1.
In Other News...
Tennessee Running Back Battle Just Got More Interesting After Closed Scrimmage
Tennessees closed intrasquad scrimmage at Neyland Stadium offered one of those early August snapshots that can shift the conversation around a position group. The Volunteers are still sorting out the running back picture behind starter DeSean Bishop, and Daune Morris helped make the case that he belongs in the mix with a burst that stood out during the workout.
Morris has also drawn attention because of the way Tennessee views his skill set. In a recent press conference, he and running backs coach DeRail Sims talked about his performance and his ability to do more than just carry the ball, a trait that can matter in a backfield where versatility often decides playing time. For a group still taking shape, Morris is making it harder to ignore the possibility that he can be used in a few different spots. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Alabama Rivalry Just Got A Tradition Vols Fans Will Love
The Alabama-Tennessee rivalry is getting a familiar look back for the next two years, with both schools agreeing to wear their home jerseys in the matchup. Alabama will be in crimson at Neyland Stadium on October 17, and Tennessee will return the favor in Tuscaloosa next year, bringing back a tradition that adds a little extra weight to one of the SECs biggest annual games.
For Vols fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable, since it will be the first time since 1970 that both teams have worn home jerseys in Neyland Stadium. It is the kind of small but meaningful change that gives the rivalry a throwback feel, and it should make an already charged atmosphere look even sharper when the teams meet in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas QB Battle May Be Swinging After One Telling Scrimmage
College footballs quarterback competitions are still being sorted out across the country, and Tennessee is right in the middle of that familiar late-summer uncertainty. With preseason work continuing and no official starter named, the Volunteers have been watching a younger group push for position as coaches and analysts try to separate promise from readiness before the opener.
One name drawing more attention is Faizon Brandon, the true freshman who has apparently made his case in recent work against George MacIntyre. Recent reporting pointed to Brandon landing several deep throws in a scrimmage, the kind of flash that can speed up a staffs thinking even when the race is far from officially over. If Tennessee is leaning toward getting clarity sooner rather than later, this battle may be nearing a decision point. [Read more 🡒]