George MacIntyre coughed up a fumble and tossed two interceptions against an Arkansas squad riding a 13-game SEC losing streak, making Tennessee’s narrow 24-17 win on October 10 the scariest kind of victory. It was a terrifyingly close call for the 14th-ranked Vols against a 14-point underdog, and it’s got everyone wondering who in the world is going to take the snaps when mighty Alabama comes to town next week.
The Quarterback Rollercoaster Just Got Even Wilder
Look, it’s never easy when you’re dealing with inexperienced quarterbacks, and that’s the short answer for why the Vols cut it so close. True freshman Faizon Brandon had a complete nightmare in his last start against Auburn on October 3, completing just three of eight passes for absolutely no yards in the first half. Sophomore George MacIntyre then swooped in like a hero, coming off the bench to lead the Vols to a 24-14 victory over the Tigers. That solid play, combined with Brandon’s shoulder injury, earned MacIntyre his first start against the Razorbacks.
But man, his play against Arkansas? That might not earn him another. Yeah, he lost that fumble and threw two picks, but it wasn’t a total disaster. The guy did lead two fourth-quarter scoring drives to seal the comeback. He finished 18 of 29 passing for 247 yards and a touchdown. But those turnovers? They loomed huge in what should have been an easy win. Now, with Brandon’s health still questionable for the Alabama game, coach Josh Heupel has a monumental decision on his hands, and don’t expect him to rush it, either. He’s always slow to announce his QB preferences.
Defense Couldn’t Close It Out, Bishop Steps Up BIG
The Tennessee defense, a unit expected to dominate against an Arkansas team ranked 115th nationally in total offense, looked like world-beaters in the first half. They limited the Razorbacks to just 95 yards and kept them off the scoreboard entirely. Safety Dejuan Lane, who had a career game against Auburn with nine tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and an interception, even said, “We don’t need any points from the offense to win the game. We’re going to win on defense.” Talk about confidence!
But the second half? Arkansas reeled off touchdown drives on its first two possessions, and suddenly the defense couldn’t hold the line alone. Thank goodness for DeSean Bishop, who picked up where the defense started to falter. This dude is on fire! He had a 59-yard run around the right end that set up the clinching score against Arkansas, capping off another insane performance with 19 carries for 138 yards. That’s right, 138 yards, a week after rushing for 220 yards against Auburn! Bishop’s now got 678 rushing yards on the season, putting him on pace to smash through 1,300 yards.
This Saturday, October 17, against Alabama, is going to be a huge challenge. The Vols would be hard-pressed to beat them no matter who Heupel decides to start at quarterback. Bishop’s incredible pace, and the team’s hopes, are going to depend heavily on whether they can find some real consistency under center.
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.
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