Sophomore quarterback George MacIntyre has started the last two games for Tennessee, and the Vols are 2-0 in those matchups.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, however, didn’t name MacIntyre as the Vols’ starter when asked earlier this week.

MacIntyre, though, is fully expected to start against South Carolina on Saturday in Columbia.

Some fans and talking heads have speculated that Heupel isn’t naming a starter because he’s eager to get true freshman Faizon Brandon back on the field (Brandon hasn’t played since leaving the Auburn game in the second quarter due to a shoulder injury/performance).

But VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs says that’s not the case.

“I have no idea,” said Hubbs on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will when asked why Heupel isn’t naming a starting quarterback. “I don’t know if it’s a superstition thing at this point — if that’s his lucky rabbit’s foot — or what it is. But internally, there’s been no debate all week long. Everybody has known (that MacIntyre is starting against South Carolina). And Josh Heupel choosing to [not name MacIntyre as the starter] on Mondays for whatever reason, that’s not a knock on George MacIntyre.

“If you go back and read or listen to Josh Heupel’s quotes after the Alabama game, he was extremely complimentary of George and the way George is playing. I know some people read it as, ‘Man, all he wants to do is get the freshman Faizon Brandon back on the field,’ and that’s not the case at this point. Heupel is comfortable with where George is. He likes the way George is growing and he likes the way George is playing. He’s getting more and more confidence with George. And George is getting more and more confidence every week he plays.”

“For a young quarterback to manage the clock and to manage the second half (against Alabama) the way he did,” continued Hubbs. “The decisions he’s making, the critical throws he made in the second half to move the sticks — particularly on that drive to go close it out and put the game away for Tennessee, it’s really good play. The game is not fast for George right now. That’s probably the best compliment I can give him. When you watch him play, nothing feels fast. He’s not hopping around. He doesn’t look scattered at the line of scrimmage when he’s making a call. It feels like he’s got control of the game. It felt like he had control of that game Saturday against Alabama from start to finish.”

It’s certainly clear that MacIntyre is the guy right now.

But I think there’s a reason why Heupel isn’t committing to him as the Vols’ undisputed starting quarterback.

I think it’s because Heupel recognizes that he has two young quarterbacks who could have a bad game (or even just a bad half) at any point over the second half of the season and he could be forced to go to the other quarterback.

If that happens, I don’t think Heupel wants the narrative to be that either player was “benched” as they’re both still developing as players (they’re gonna have some tough games/learning moments, but Heupel has to win games).

I don’t think there’s any conspiracy here. I truly believe this is just Heupel’s way of protecting both players from the narratives that may form if one of his quarterbacks has a rough game.