Well, the rumors are true. After a rocky Week 5, Tennessee is rolling with George MacIntyre at quarterback for Saturday’s showdown against Arkansas. This isn’t just a one-game tryout either, folks. MacIntyre is the guy, replacing Faizon Brandon who was pulled midway through their 24-14 win over Auburn.
Brandon’s Struggles Paved the Way
Man, Brandon’s start against Auburn was ROUGH. I mean, 3-of-8 passing for zero yards and an interception? Ouch. The Vols punted on their first four drives of that game, only running 16 plays total. His first completion even went for seven yards, but then the next two *lost* seven. You just can’t win like that, especially when you’re trying to keep a ranked team’s season on track.
This wasn’t out of nowhere, either. Brandon might have won the starting job in fall camp, stepping in for Joey Aguilar, but he hasn’t exactly been lighting it up. The interception against Auburn was his first of the season, but he hadn’t cracked 200 yards passing in any of the last three games. Remember that Week 4 slugfest against No. 1 Texas? He was 17-of-29 for 145 yards and a touchdown, but got absolutely pummeled with 10 sacks, with Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons getting 5.5 of those. That’s brutal, and it shows the kind of pressure the offense has been under.
MacIntyre Steps Up With Power Behind Him
But then MacIntyre steps in against Auburn, and man, what a difference! He went 8-of-10 for 86 yards. Now, it wasn’t all him, DeSean Bishop went OFF with 34 carries for 220 yards and three touchdowns, completely powering the offense. But MacIntyre looked calm, looked in control, and efficiently moved the ball. That’s what you need when you’re trying to spark some life.
And let’s not forget who this kid is. MacIntyre, a Nashville native, was a four-star recruit in the 2025 class. He was ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the state of Tennessee and the No. 16 quarterback in the *entire country* in his class. We’re talking about a guy ranked ahead of dudes like Pitt’s Mason Heintschel and BYU’s Bear Bachmeier. This isn’t some walk-on. This kid’s got the talent and the pedigree, and now he’s got the keys to the offense.
So, all eyes are on MacIntyre this Saturday when the Vols face Arkansas. Can he replicate that efficiency? Can the offense keep humming with Bishop leading the charge? This is a huge moment for the team, for MacIntyre, and for the direction of this season. It’s time to see what this kid can really do.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply