Tennessee is heading into fall camp with its biggest question still hanging in the air: who takes the first snap in Week 1, Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre?
Josh Heupel hasn’t given away anything yet, and that part makes sense. MacIntyre has put in the work and earned a real shot at the job as he enters his second fall camp in Knoxville. But the case for Brandon is the one that keeps coming back into focus, because his ceiling is simply higher.
That’s the gamble Tennessee made when it went all-in on the five-star quarterback, and it’s why the Vols should be prepared to hand him the keys. If the choice is about the best long-term move, Brandon is the answer. Tennessee needs him leading the offense on Sept. 5 against Furman.
On3’s Pete Nakos already projects Brandon to be Tennessee’s starter in 2026, and that lines up with the way the spring unfolded. Brandon showed why he was such a prized recruit, flashing the kind of talent that made him the No. 1 quarterback in the country in the 247Sports rankings. He also showed the expected freshman growing pains, with overthrows and missed reads part of the picture.
Those mistakes shouldn’t scare Tennessee off. If Brandon wins the job, some of that unevenness will come with the territory early on. But the upside is the reason he was such a priority in the first place.
There’s also a blueprint for what that first year can look like. The source material points to Bryce Underwood’s 2025 season as a comparison, noting that he didn’t fully match his five-star billing but still delivered flashes of brilliance. Underwood has since spent the offseason working on his mechanics, with a new throwing motion drawing attention in Ann Arbor.
That kind of developmental path is exactly what Tennessee could be betting on with Brandon. If he starts, the Vols may have to live with some rough edges now in exchange for what he could become later. And if MacIntyre loses the competition, the concern is that he could follow the same route as Jake Merklinger, who entered the transfer portal last offseason and has since signed with UConn.
Heupel has a decision to make, but the logic points in one direction. Tennessee is not being asked to chase a national title this season.
The bigger picture is what matters here, and Brandon gives the Vols their best shot at building toward something bigger in 2027 and 2028. A deep College Football Playoff run may be the real target down the road, and Brandon is the quarterback who gives Tennessee the strongest chance to get there.
In Other News...
Tennessee Faces A Uniform Decision Fans Never Expected This Soon
College athletics is entering a new revenue era, and Tennessee now has a decision it probably did not expect to be facing this quickly. After the NCAA Division I Cabinet approved commercial patches on uniforms, equipment and apparel, schools suddenly have a fresh way to bring in money, and Ohio State has already shown how big the market could be with a reported JPMorgan Chase agreement that includes NIL opportunities.
For Tennessee, the question is not whether the idea is real anymore, but how soon the Volunteers might want to act. The most obvious path would seem to involve a company already tied closely to UT Athletics, though any move would have to balance new revenue against the fan bases attachment to the programs clean look. With football season less than a month away, there is a real sense that if Tennessee wants to capitalize on this opening, the clock is already ticking. [Read more 🡒]
Bret Bielema Just Gave Tennessee Fans Another Reason To Be Furious
Big Ten Media Days gave Bret Bielema another chance to take a shot at the SEC, and Tennessee fans were quick to notice. The Illinois coach framed the conference as one that would prefer college football to stay frozen in 2005, while pointing to the way NIL and the transfer portal have helped programs like his own adapt to the sports new reality.
For Vols fans, the irritation is not just about the jab itself. Bielemas history in the SEC already made him a familiar target, and his recent win over Tennessee only sharpened the edge of his comments. Illinois edged the Vols 30-28 in the Music City Bowl last December, so every new dig from Bielema carries a little extra weight in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Heupel Is Taking Another Massive Recruiting Swing After Georges Win
Josh Heupel is taking another big swing on the recruiting trail as Tennessee pushes to stay in the mix for one of the nations most coveted defensive prospects. The Vols are reportedly working to flip a five-star EDGE recruit who remains committed to Ohio State, adding another layer to a battle that has already become familiar for Tennessee as the early signing period in December draws closer.
The prospect has drawn attention from plenty of programs beyond Knoxville and Columbus, including Miami, and his recruitment is still very much in motion. For Tennessee, the effort fits a broader push to keep stacking elite talent after recent success against the Buckeyes, but this one is still unsettled and will likely stay that way as the contact and competition continue. [Read more 🡒]