Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel did something in the Vols’ 24-14 win over Auburn that a head coach should never do.

But despite conventional wisdom, it was actually the right move at the right time.

Heupel benched starting quarterback Faizon Brandon in the second quarter after the true freshman threw his first career interception.

Plenty of folks pointed out that it was a less-than-ideal time to bench Brandon because of what it could do to the former five-star recruit’s confidence.

Heupel, after all, said earlier this week that Brandon, who looked hesitant last week against Texas, just has to “let it rip.”

“There’s windows and opportunities….where some of those things he’s got to let rip,” said Heupel. “Things that he saw and things that maybe he missed. But that’s part of growing as a quarterback.”

On the surface, it’s not a great look to make that comment and then bench Brandon after his first interception.

But there was more to this decision than simply benching Brandon because he wasn’t playing well.

The ESPN broadcast of the game noted that Brandon seemingly went to a dark place after throwing the interception.

“Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle told us that for Faizon Brandon, his best quality is his wiring,” said ESPN’s Stormy Buonantony. “He’s very flatlined. He doesn’t get too high and doesn’t get too low. After that interception, that was about the lowest that I’ve seen Faizon Brandon in the two games that we’ve covered him this season. He took a lot of time by himself on the sideline, clasped his hands, had his head down, and looked like he was in some deep contemplative thought. A lot of people tried to come up to him and speak some life into him, but he was just shaking his head left and right.”

When you hear that quote from Buonantony, it makes it clear that Heupel made the right move at the right time.

Brandon still has a bright future, and he can still be one of the best players in the nation. But he wasn’t in the right headspace at that time to go back on the field. Things could’ve quickly spiraled on him, which would’ve killed his confidence further.

Heupel made the right move for the team by putting George MacIntyre in the game. He also made the right move for Brandon by giving the young quarterback some time to breathe.

As Heupel said after the game, Tennessee is going to need both of these quarterbacks over the final seven games of the regular season. The Vols need both of them to be confident players going forward. Brandon isn’t there right now, but I think Heupel made the right move on Saturday to ensure that he gets there.