Tennessee football is preparing for fall camp ahead of a pivotal 2026 season. With so many questions about the roster, predictions have ranged from threatening to make the playoffs to a rough year.
Here are three reasons for pessimism for the Vols’ season, though.
Inexperience at Quarterback
Tennessee is going to have a new quarterback at the helm of the offense for yet another season. This time, it’ll be an inexperienced option. The battle is between redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre, five-star freshman Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.
MacIntyre enters the competition with the most experience within Josh Heupel’s system. However, as a true freshman a year ago, he attempted fewer than 10 passes, all against inferior opponents.
Brandon possesses potentially the most long-term upside. As a five-star prospect, the expectation is that he will develop into a star and an NFL draft pick. However, UT fans are well aware that five-star quarterbacks don’t always pan out.
Staub joins with the most experience at the college level. He played at Colorado and even briefly started, but struggled in the Big 12.
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Lack of Depth on the Defensive Line
After putting together possibly the best and deepest defensive line in the country in 2024, UT struggled up front at times with a thin group in 2025. This year, it is projected to look similar, though Jim Knowles comes in as a new defensive coordinator.
At defensive end, the Vols will rely on Tyree Weathersby and Mariyon Dye at the top of the room. Weathersby is entering his fourth-year, but has been hindered by injuries. Dye is entering his second year after playing in a reserve role as a freshman. Behind that pair is freshmen.
On the interior, UT has a strong top of the room. Returning defensive tackles include Daevin Hobbs, Nathan Robinson, Isaiah Campbell and Ethan Utley. The Vols also added Penn State transfer Xavier Gilliam, who seems poised for a big role. Behind that group are freshmen.
LEO is the shakiest position of the bunch. Tennessee brought in Penn State transfer Chaz Coleman this offseason, but he has since been medically disqualified and won’t play at UT. This leaves Tulane transfer Jordan Norman as the main piece of the room, with redshirt-freshman Christian Gass and freshmen making up the remainder.
Nine SEC Game Schedule
It’s always going to be a gauntlet in the SEC. However, this year is worse than any before. The conference is moving to a nine-game slate instead of the previous eight-game schedule.
For Tennessee, this means home games against Texas, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky and LSU. The Vols will be on the road against Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
For out-of-conference games, Tennessee will play Furman and Kennesaw State at home with a road game against Georgia Tech in week two. That game against the Yellow Jackets has the Vols favored, but it could get tricky.
