Tennessee Names 5-Star Freshman Faizon Brandon 2026 Starter as George MacIntyre Moves to No. 2
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 24
Tennessee Names 5-Star Freshman Faizon Brandon 2026 Starter as George MacIntyre Moves to No. 2
3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 24
Summary
George MacIntyre is now Tennessee’s clear No. 2 quarterback after 5-star true freshman Faizon Brandon won the starting job for the 2026 opener.
Brandon’s selection marks the first time since 2004 that the Volunteers will open a season with a true freshman at quarterback.
Sep. 5 against Furman is expected to give MacIntyre meaningful snaps, offering an early look at both quarterbacks before Tennessee’s first road game at Georgia Tech.
The battle may not be over for long: Tennessee has four quarterbacks in the room, and coaches’ history suggests the starter for Game 1 does not necessarily keep the job all season.