Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel hasn’t named a starting quarterback for the Vols’ game against South Carolina on Saturday, but the expectation is that sophomore George MacIntyre will make his third straight start.

MacIntyre replaced true freshman Faizon Brandon, who started the first five games of the season, during the second quarter of Tennessee’s game against Auburn earlier this month.

The sophomore quarterback led the Vols to a come-from-behind win over the Tigers. MacIntyre then led the Vols to wins in starts against Arkansas and Alabama.

The national media doesn’t believe in George MacIntyre

MacIntyre has played well in his previous two starts and he’s shown growth each week. He’s still early in his career, so he should continue to get better as he gets more playing time.

But that’s not how folks in the national media see it.

Many of the analysts who are picking South Carolina to beat Tennessee this weekend have pointed to their lack of belief in MacIntyre as a reason why.

“If it becomes a close game, and South Carolina, which has a pretty good defense and has a pretty good pass rusher in Dylan Stewart, if they’re able to put [Tennessee] in situations where they’re going to have to rely on their quarterback to step into third-and-long and make a pass to move the chains and keep the drive going, I don’t know if I’ve seen enough from MacIntyre in these situations where I have a lot of trust in his ability to do it,” said CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli. ” … At some point, you’re going to need your quarterback to win a game, and these are the spots where you typically find it. And I just don’t know that I have the faith in MacIntyre to do it.”

ESPN’s Bill Connelly is another national analyst who questioned MacIntyre’s ability to make big plays in key moments.

“QB remains a mystery with George MacIntyre having replaced a struggling Brandon,” wrote Connelly. “MacIntyre avoided mistakes and allowed running back DeSean Bishop and the dominant Tennessee defense to carry a 26-10 win over Alabama last week, and as long as he’s not facing a major onus to make plays, Tennessee could contend in the SEC. … South Carolina’s run game, so poor in 2025, is clicking and taking pressure off quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks defend the run well enough to potentially put the game in MacIntyre’s hands.”

I don’t know how MacIntyre will play on Saturday against South Carolina. Maybe it’s the best game of his young career, or maybe it doesn’t go well for him.

Either way, what I don’t understand is the national media acting like he’s a finished product and can’t get better.

I mean, have these people forgotten how development works? MacIntyre has played 10 quarters of meaningful college football. And he’s improved in each game he’s played. Why do some of these national analysts act like he can’t take another step forward this weekend against South Carolina?

Maybe it’s just me, but I think that’s an unfair way to view any young player. I truly believe the ridiculous early expectations and unfair narratives are a big reason why young players — especially young quarterbacks — are struggling across the sport.

I know it’s all about wins, but college football players can’t skip the development stage just because they’re getting paid big bucks. They have to go through some ups and downs and experience some growing pains.

Maybe MacIntyre will see all of the doubt this week and use it as fuel against the Gamecocks on Saturday in Columbia.