Another talented quarterback is on the move, and this one could shake up the SEC in a big way. Byrum Brown, fresh off a breakout season at USF, is officially entering the transfer portal. The timing is notable-his departure comes just after Bulls head coach Alex Golesh accepted the offensive coordinator job at Auburn.
Now, the college football world is watching closely to see if Brown follows his former coach to the Plains. There’s plenty of buzz suggesting a reunion could be in the works, especially with several key members of Golesh’s USF staff also making the move to Auburn. But nothing’s locked in yet, and a quarterback with Brown’s dual-threat skill set won’t be short on options.
If he does end up in orange and blue, circle October 3, 2026, on your calendar. That’s when Auburn heads to Knoxville to face Tennessee in what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes SEC showdown.
That matchup would bring several familiar faces back to Neyland Stadium-Golesh and Auburn defensive coordinator Tim Banks both served under Josh Heupel at Tennessee. And if Brown is under center for the Tigers, the Vols’ defense could be in for a long afternoon.
Let’s break down why. Brown put together an electric 2025 campaign, throwing for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.
And he wasn’t just a threat through the air-he added 1,008 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. That kind of production makes him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the portal and a potential game-changer wherever he lands.
This will be Brown’s fifth and final year of college eligibility. He started for Golesh in all three seasons they were together at USF, though he missed more than half of the 2024 season due to injury. Still, when healthy, he’s shown the kind of command and explosiveness that can lift an entire offense.
As for Tennessee, their own quarterback situation heading into 2026 is full of question marks. Joey Aguilar is pushing for another year of eligibility, but under current NCAA rules, he’s not expected to return.
That leaves a young and unproven group in Knoxville. Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon are the top internal options, while Jake Merklinger has already entered the portal.
Given the uncertainty, don’t be surprised if Josh Heupel looks to the portal himself. He’s had success with experienced quarterbacks in the past, and there’s no shortage of veteran signal-callers available this offseason. Whether Tennessee finds their next starter from within or outside the program, they’ll need someone ready to lead in a competitive SEC slate.
And if Byrum Brown ends up at Auburn, that October date in Knoxville could become one of the most intriguing quarterback matchups of the 2026 season.