Josh Heupel made the move Tennessee fans didn’t see coming late in the first half against Auburn, turning from freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon to George MacIntyre after Brandon’s rough start left the Volunteers searching for answers.
Brandon’s numbers told the story. Before coming out, he had completed just 3 of 8 passes for zero yards and thrown an interception. The last mistake came with a little over five minutes left in the half, when he locked onto his receiver and then gave Auburn a free turnover.
The sideline looked just as bleak. ESPN sideline reporter Stormy Buonantony said right before MacIntyre entered that Brandon looked the most dejected she had seen him all season. His body language on the bench was described as terrible, and he appeared down in the dumps after the interception and the touchdown that followed.
Auburn had just grabbed the lead, and when Brandon seemed ready to head back out, it was MacIntyre who took over the offense instead. Justin Hokanson summed up the switch bluntly on social media: “Tennessee inserts backup QB George McIntyre.
Faizon Brandon looked rough, that's for sure. Brandon leaves the game 3-for-8 passing for literally zero yards.
That's hard to do.”
The change came after Byrum Brown broke several tackles on his way to the end zone for six, and now all eyes are on MacIntyre to see what he can do next. For the moment, Tennessee has a quarterback situation nobody expected to be talking about this way.
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Alex Golesh Had A Telling Read On How Neyland Shifted This Game
Auburn left Neyland Stadium with a 24-14 loss to Tennessee, but head coach Alex Golesh came away talking as much about the shift in his own offense as the final score. After a slow start and some penalties that hampered the Tigers early, Golesh said the group found better rhythm in the second half, with the run game helping settle things down and the passing attack starting to look more efficient.
For Tennessee, that kind of midgame adjustment is exactly the sort of wrinkle Neyland has a way of amplifying. The Volunteers were able to lean on the atmosphere and the flow of the game as Auburns offense began to click more cleanly, but Goleshs comments suggested his team left with a clearer sense of where the execution improved and where the early mistakes made the difference. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Offense Just Sparked A Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Tennessee got the result it needed against Auburn, but the way it got there left plenty to sort through. The Vols pulled out a 24-14 win to move to 4-1, and the offenses first-half unevenness put an immediate spotlight on true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon before the ground game took over and steadied things.
DeSean Bishop was the difference-maker, putting together a career-best outing with 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns to carry Tennessee through a tense finish. Even as the offense searched for consistency, the defense helped close the door, with Dejuan Lane adding an interception and a sack in the second half to keep Auburn from mounting a late push. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Added More Fuel To A Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Tennessee left Auburn with a 24-14 win that nudged the Vols to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC play, and the reward on the national side was just as notable. The coaches moved Tennessee up three spots to No. 14 in the latest poll, placing the Vols sixth among SEC teams and keeping them in the thick of a conference race that still feels wide open in October.
The bigger conversation, though, is happening under center. Josh Heupel addressed the quarterback change during the game but stopped short of naming a starter for next week, leaving Tennessee to head into Arkansas with the position still unsettled. For a team that has already shown it can win while sorting through that question, the next week now feels like another test of both timing and trust. [Read more 🡒]