Tennessee football’s biggest question mark for the 2026 season is the quarterback position. With Joey Aguilar out of eligibility, the Vols are looking at either second-year George MacIntyre or freshman Faizon Brandon to take over the offense.
This quarterback battle remains open for the taking as we head into fall camp. Both MacIntyre and Brandon now have the opportunity to show why they deserve the starting nod for the upcoming year after taking in coaching during the spring and summer and applying it to training camp.
What is Josh Heupel looking for in his quarterback to make the decision, though? He was asked what the deciding factor would be, and obviously, it isn’t just one thing. Instead, he listed a number of attributes that must be present.
“I don’t think there is just one thing at the quarterback position,” Heupel said. “That guy’s got his hands on the football every single play. You have to learn how to take care and manage the game. Catastrophic plays are the difference in this league. When you play so many one-possession games, it comes down to taking care of the football at times. But they have to play on a competitive edge, distribute the football, get it to your play-makers on time and accurately where they have a chance to make a play afterwards.
“You have to have complete control and command of what we’re doing offensively. You got to understand protections, you got to be able to check and adjust. Run game, loaded box checks. Those guys are making the decision on every play. At the end of the day, the guy that will be the guy is the guy that’s going to have complete control of what we’re doing and puts us in the best position to win football games and score points.”
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MacIntyre enters the competition as the most experienced quarterback within Tennessee’s offense in the room. However, it’s a minuscule amount of time on the field, with his combined 7-for-9 passing for 69 yards against ETSU and New Mexico State going down as his only college stats.
Brandon enters as one of the top high school recruits in the 2026 cycle. The five-star finished on 247 as the No. 3 overall player in the class, showcasing a college-ready frame and arm. He’s also hit the ground running as far as his understanding of the playbook since getting to campus.
The other quarterback that UT brought in this offseason was Colorado transfer Ryan Staub. He’s likely a depth piece, though, with the winner between MacIntyre and Brandon theoretically taking the reins for multiple years as young signal callers.
