Josh Heupel still isn’t ready to say it out loud, but the signs point the same direction: George MacIntyre is expected to be Tennessee’s quarterback when the Vols face Kentucky.
Heupel kept things vague on Monday after the open date, refusing to publicly lock in a starter for the week ahead.
“Yeah, we’ll finish the week here, practice and get to game day,” Heupel said on Monday.
That hasn’t stopped the reporting from lining up with what many already expected. Pete Nakos of On3 reported that MacIntyre will remain the guy for Tennessee, with Faizon Brandon waiting in reserve if his number is called.
MacIntyre has already handled the job for Tennessee’s last three games. He briefly appeared in the win over Furman and the loss to Texas, then took over for the second half against Auburn before starting and finishing the wins at Arkansas and vs. Alabama and the loss at South Carolina.
On the season, MacIntyre has completed 69 of 103 passes for 728 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Brandon opened the year as Tennessee’s starter, beginning the wins vs. Furman, at Georgia Tech and vs.
Kennesaw State. He also took the field in the loss to Texas, where he was sacked 10 times, and then got off to a rough start against Auburn while dealing with injury before being pulled.
He hasn’t played since.
In his time on the field, Brandon has gone 61 of 101 for 697 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He has also rushed for 130 yards and three scores.
Tennessee and Kentucky are set for a 6:15 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN, with the Vols listed as 6.5-point favorites by FanDuel.
In Other News...
Tennessee Defense Faces A Dangerous Temptation Against Kentucky
The bye week gave Tennessees defense a chance to catch its breath, and Anthony Poindexter believes it also gave the unit a little more time to settle into its own skin. The Vols co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach pointed to rest, communication and a better grasp of the system as the kind of quiet gains that can matter when the games tighten up in the SEC.
Kentucky offers a different kind of test, though, with an offense that can change formations and tempos fast enough to bait a defense into overreaching. Poindexters message was clear: stay disciplined, dont chase forced turnovers, and trust the structure Tennessee has been building. Against a team that can create confusion simply by varying the picture, the temptation to do too much can be just as dangerous as any big play. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Gets Its First Real Test Of A Very Different Team
The first real look at Tennessees revamped basketball roster arrives Nov. 3, when the Volunteers open the season against Wofford at Food City Center in Knoxville. It will be the first chance to see how a group that added new pieces like Juke Harris and Terrence Hill Jr. fits together after last seasons Elite Eight run, with the opener set for the SEC Network and streaming on the ESPN App.
For Tennessee, the intrigue is less about the opponent than about the shape of this new team. The Volunteers have earned the right to start the year with expectations, but openers often reveal more than any practice report can, especially when there are fresh faces trying to settle in and carry over the standard set by a deep postseason run. [Read more 🡒]
Rick Barnes' New-Look Vols Face An Early Readiness Test
Tennessee is heading into its season opener against Wofford with the kind of early-season test that can reveal a lot without telling the whole story. It is the 10th meeting between the programs, and the Vols have won all nine previous matchups, but this one is less about history than about how quickly Rick Barnes new-look roster settles in. Around the program, staff members have been weighing in on what to expect, with the conversation centering on Tennessees defensive identity and the value of returning players in helping the group find its footing.
Barnes has built his teams on toughness and execution, and that emphasis figures to be front and center again as the Vols try to establish a baseline right away. The opener should offer an early read on how well the pieces fit, how quickly the returning players can steady the rotation and whether Tennessee looks ready to carry its defensive standards into another season. It is still just one game, but for a roster trying to define itself, it can say plenty. [Read more 🡒]