ESPN sent an interesting message about the Tennessee Vols’ young quarterbacks
The Tennessee Vols will be starting either redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or true freshman Faizon Brandon this fall.
We don’t know yet whether it’ll be redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or true freshman Faizon Brandon starting at quarterback for the Tennessee Vols in 2026.
But whichever quarterback it is, ESPN’s Bill Connelly believes Tennessee’s starter will be one of the 40 most important players in college football this fall.
Connelly unveiled his annual list of the 40 most important players in college football — which he describes as “the players who could define the season with moments, or long spells, of greatness” — and he has Tennessee’s quarterbacks at No. 10 on the list.
“Tennessee returns seven starters from an offense that surged back to seventh in offensive SP+ last season,” wrote Connelly. “The Volunteers’ defense will be a work in progress under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, but the offense could still carry serious weight, and lead either some upset bids or a CFP push, if the new starting QB of choice — either the redshirt freshman MacIntyre (the No. 109 prospect in the 2025 class) or the dynamic and particularly young Brandon (the No. 14 prospect of 2026) — is able to steer the ship without too many mistakes.”
Tennessee’s quarterback situation is one of the biggest unknowns in college football. If either Brandon or MacIntyre emerge as a capable starter, the Vols could easily end up being a surprise College Football Playoff contender. At worst, Tennessee could play spoiler against teams like Alabama, Texas A&M, Texas, and LSU.
The way Tennessee’s quarterbacks perform — for better or worse — will have a massive impact on the way the SEC race plays out in 2026.
And ESPN certainly seems to agree.
