The quarterback call in Knoxville could decide whether Tennessee has any real shot at turning the Third Saturday in October into something bigger than a measuring stick.
Alabama is headed to Neyland Stadium this weekend with plenty of irritation after the Georgia loss, and Tennessee is coming off a road win over Arkansas with Faizon Brandon still not in the picture. Josh Heupel wouldn’t reveal anything about his quarterback plans while speaking to the media in Arkansas, but the shape of this decision feels pretty clear: George MacIntyre has done enough to get another turn.
Tennessee opened as a 6.5-point underdog against the Crimson Tide, and that only sharpens the logic. If the Vols are going to make this interesting, they need the quarterback who showed he’s willing to let it fly.
MacIntyre’s first career start wasn’t clean, but it was productive. He went 18-of-29 for 247 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing two interceptions.
There were throws he’d want back in a hurry, no question.
Even so, he gave Tennessee something Heupel has been asking for: aggression. MacIntyre took chances, and while some of them turned into mistakes, he was giving his receivers opportunities to make plays on the ball. Against a defense like Alabama’s, that kind of willingness matters.
DeSean Bishop pointed to MacIntyre’s poise after the Arkansas game, saying, “Some mistakes, but didn't faze him at all. He just kept playing and doing what he could to put us in the best position to come out on top.”
The challenge only gets steeper from here. Tennessee is going to need a near-perfect performance to hang with Kalen DeBoer’s team in Knoxville, especially with Alabama still carrying that fresh edge after the Georgia result. The Vols also know what happens when they don’t take advantage of their chances; the Texas game is the clearest example from not long ago.
That’s why the quarterback choice matters so much. MacIntyre, right now, looks like Tennessee’s best option to keep the offense moving and give the Vols a chance to trade punches once the game starts.
Brandon, meanwhile, is still a little banged up, and he looked off against Texas and Auburn. Forcing him back into this spot against a stout Alabama defense would be asking for trouble.
Heupel can keep the answer close to the vest for now, but the smart play is obvious. If Tennessee wants any hope of handing Alabama its second straight loss, MacIntyre should be the one under center when the Vols come out for this one.
In Other News...
Heupel Hinted At Two Big Tennessee Concerns Before Alabama
The build-up to Tennessees trip to Alabama has the feel of a measuring-stick game, and Josh Heupel knows it. With both teams sitting at 5-1 and the Volunteers headed in as the 14th-ranked team against No. 6 Alabama, the head coach spent his time with the media leaning into the standard issues that come with a rivalry of this size: preparation, execution and the need for individual players to be ready for every snap.
Heupel also touched on the matchup in a way that suggested Tennessee has already identified the places where this game could tilt, even before the teams take the field Saturday. For a Vols team trying to keep pace in the national picture, the stakes are obvious, but so is the challenge of handling an Alabama opponent that has not given many easy answers in this rivalry. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Be Missing The Weapon Tennessee Feared Most
Alabamas passing game may be heading into Saturdays matchup with Tennessee without its most productive target. Ryan Coleman-Williams is not expected to play because of head and leg injuries, and coach Kalen DeBoer said the receiver is also dealing with a knee issue as the Tide work through the week.
For a Tennessee defense already bracing for a major SEC test, the injury status matters because Coleman-Williams has been Alabamas leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns this season. DeBoer indicated the receiver is expected to be week-to-week after the Tennessee game, leaving the Vols to prepare for a version of Alabama that may look a little different than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Will Notice What Alabama Just Lost After That Game
Ryan Coleman-Williams may be the latest Alabama receiver to miss time after taking a hit in the loss to Georgia, and that matters beyond Tuscaloosa because Tennessee is now staring at a Crimson Tide passing game that could look different in a hurry. Coach Kalen DeBoer said the receiver is unlikely to play against Tennessee after dealing with multiple injuries, including issues to his leg and head, and Alabama is planning to evaluate him week to week.
For Tennessee, the bigger picture is the ripple effect. Alabama may turn to a committee at wide receiver if Coleman-Williams is out, which changes how the Tide can distribute touches and how much pressure the Volunteers can put on the rest of that group. It is one more variable to track before a matchup that already carries plenty of edge, especially for a Tennessee defense trying to sort out what version of Alabama shows up after the Georgia game. [Read more 🡒]