Vol fans have their answer about whether Joey Aguilar will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2026. And in the most Tennessee of Tennessee fashions, he will not be.

Despite filing suit in Knox County and before a judge some assumed would be friendly as a Tennessee alumnus, Aguilar was denied an injunction on Friday afternoon by Knox County Chancery Court judge Christopher D. Heagerty.

So much for some fans’ hopes for a hometown ruling. Certainly, it worked for Ole Miss and Trinidad Chambliss, but not so much for Tennessee.

And for any Tennessee fans perhaps hoping for any reversal on appeal, I’d be surprised if Aguilar even tried. The issuance of an injunction is largely discretionary by the trial judge, meaning an appellate court will give strong deference to the ruling unless there was a major mistake.

So, the question now becomes: now what? And the answer should be George MacIntyre’s offseason diet.

George MacIntyre should be looked at as the early favorite in a tight two-headed QB battle in spring and fall camp

Make no mistake. We are heading into a quarterback battle this spring that will be the first of two steps in a two-headed race to determine who starts at quarterback for the Vols on September 5 against Furman, with the other being fall practice. Ryan Staub is also in the building, but the talent of MacIntyre and incoming five-star freshman Faizon Brandon both well eclipse him.

So the question really becomes: how ready can each candidate get for fall camp, where the winner will be decided?

MacIntyre has a year in Heupel’s system. That’s certainly a feather in his cap, but not a dispositive one, as Brandon has a spring semester to get familiar with the offense. For MacIntyre, it’s about, once again, getting physically ready for the season and being able to absorb hits, step through tackle attempts, and strengthen his base to improve his throwing ability.

Brandon certainly has a high ceiling. Perhaps ultimately higher than MacIntyre’s with the way he can both throw the deep ball and scramble when things get tough. But will he be ready by the start of the season such that he’s the better option from the jump than MacIntyre?

We’ll start to see the answers to those questions starting next month when spring football begins. But after Friday, it’s certainly clearer: those answers will be key to how Tennessee’s 2026 season unfolds.

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Craig Smith