The Tennessee Vols’ starting quarterback battle is understandably dominating the headlines in Knoxville this offseason.

Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon are in a dead heat coming out of spring practice. All eyes will be on that battle this fall as Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel searches for his next starting quarterback.

The starting quarterback competition, however, isn’t the only important position battle happening this offseason.

Could the Tennessee Vols have a new starting center in 2026?

Cooper Mays served as Tennessee’s starting center for the first four seasons of the Heupel era before exhausting his eligibility.

Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton won the starting center job ahead of the 2025 season in his first year with the Volunteers. The North Carolina native started all 13 games at center for the Vols last season.

But while Pendleton played well last season, it’s not a guarantee that he’ll be Tennessee’s starting center this fall.

“Pendleton, by talking to people, it sounds like he got pushed around a little bit in the spring by some of the interior defensive linemen,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price on WNML this week. “Is that an open competition? Or just because he’s an older guy and was the starter a year ago, is that a locked in spot for him this fall? Where does that thing take us come August? To me, that’s a question I think bears watching.”

Pendleton is being pushed by redshirt freshman Nic Moore this offseason.

Moore is a former four-star recruit who played just 18 snaps as a true freshman last season.

The Tennessee native, however, was praised by Vols offensive line coach Glen Elarbee earlier this spring.

“Nic [is] super talented,” said Elarbee in March. “He’s done a great job. So much more consistent. Again, everything’s just slowed down for him. He’s powerful. In the run game, he can create movement. He can anchor. He’s done a great job. He’s had to take a few more reps this spring, but he’s done a good job with it.”

Center is arguably the most important position in Tennessee’s offense. If the center doesn’t get the snap right and get the rest of the offensive line in the right look, then the play will be doomed from the start.

Ultimately, I think Pendleton’s game experience will be the difference in this position battle. I don’t think Heupel and Elarbee will go to an inexperienced Moore while also starting an inexperienced quarterback.

It’s a good thing that Moore is pushing Pendleton — center depth is important — but I’d still be surprised if Pendleton isn’t the starter against Furman on September 5.