Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel won’t name a starting quarterback until late August at the earliest.

But let’s be honest: this quarterback battle, barring injury, is already over.

And it’s because there’s only one option that makes sense for the program — specifically because of the Vols’ team goal in 2027.

Faizon Brandon has to be the starter in 2026 because the Vols need a returning starter in 2027

Heupel said numerous times at SEC Media Days in Tampa last week that he hopes to return at some point with a second year starting quarterback.

“At some point, I’m going to have the opportunity to come back here with a returning starter at quarterback,” said Heupel during his appearance on the main stage.

Heupel also made the comment multiple times during various radio and podcast interviews while making the rounds at SEC Media Days.

The Vols have had a different starting quarterback in Game 1 in each of Heupel’s five seasons at UT (Joe Milton in 2021, Hendon Hooker in 2022, Joe Milton in 2023, Nico Iamaleava in 2024, and Joey Aguilar in 2025).

Hooker finished 2021 as the Vols’ starter after Milton suffered an injury early in the season. The 2022 season was the only time Heupel’s had a returning starter at quarterback, and it was the best season of the Heupel era at Tennessee to date.

The offense is obviously going to operate even better with a returning starter at quarterback, which is why it’s imperative for the Vols to have a second-year starting quarterback in 2027 — which is when many folks believe Tennessee’s championship window will truly open.

That’s why true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has to be the guy for the Vols this fall.

Brandon has a higher ceiling than redshirt freshman George MacIntyre. And Brandon also provides a dynamic element with his legs that is almost a requirement for a championship team to have at quarterback.

If Tennessee is gearing up for a championship run in 2027, then it’s a must for the program to have a returning starter at quarterback — it wouldn’t make sense for the Vols to have another quarterback battle next spring. It seems clear that Heupel wants a guy to emerge this fall who would then be his starter for the next two or three seasons (it could be three seasons if it’s Brandon and he reaches his full potential quickly).

I just don’t see any other way this quarterback battle can play out. If Brandon is the best option for 2027, and most seem to agree that he is based on his limitless upside, then he has to be the guy in 2026.

Even if it’s clear it’s going to be Faizon Brandon, Josh Heupel is doing the right thing by letting the QB battle play out in fall camp

Heupel will never say it publicly, but I’d be willing to bet that privately, he feels the same way about the quarterback battle.

So if that’s the case, then why not name Brandon as the starter now?

Heupel could certainly go ahead and do that, but I think he’s handling this the right way. It’s just like in 2018 when then LSU head coach Ed Orgeron knew that Joe Burrow was the best option for the Tigers. Orgeron saw a championship-caliber quarterback in Burrow when he recruited him as an Ohio State transfer, but Orgeron knew that the team had to see Burrow win the job.

Below is what Orgeron told Burrow when he was trying to get the quarterback to sign with LSU as a transfer

From The Advocate: “I can’t promise you the job. But, Joe, you’re going to be my starting quarterback. I’ve watched you on tape. I heard you today. I’m totally confident you’re going to be our starting quarterback. Look at me, Joe, I got to win here. I’m throwing it all on the line. You’re going to be our starting quarterback. I’m not guaranteeing it. You’re going to have to earn it. But if the head coach thinks you ought to be the starting quarterback, guess who is going to be the starting quarterback?”

Orgeron knew Burrow was his guy, but he didn’t officially name him as LSU’s starter until six days before the 2018 season-opener because he had to make sure the rest of the locker room saw him win the job. And then we all remember the historic run that LSU went on in 2019 with Burrow under center.

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Heupel is in the same situation with his quarterback battle. Even if he knows without a doubt that Brandon is the best option, the job still has to be won in front of the team for it to work.

It’s clear that Heupel wants a returning starter at quarterback, and Brandon is the player that makes the most sense to be that returning starter in 2027 (Heupel, interestingly, already seems at peace with the idea that he’s going to lose a quarterback after the 2026 season…and MacIntyre is likely the quarterback who will be on the move).

So if that’s the case, how can it be anyone other than Faizon Brandon who wins the job this fall?