It’s plausible that the loser of Tennessee football'squarterback competition between George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon won’t return to the Vols in 2027, and coach Josh Heupel knows that reality.
“I think that’s the era of college football that we’re in,” Heupel said on July 20 at SEC media days. “And it’s kind of been that way for a while now.”
Heupel was responding to a straightforward question about the consequences of naming a starting quarterback: Do you consider that when you choose one, you might also lose one?
Heupel is skilled at eluding such questions. But he instead just acknowledged the reality of college football in the portal era.
Both young UT quarterbacks were highly touted recruits. But likely only one will remain with the Vols
long term. And depending on how clearcut one quarterback wins the job, the loser of the competition could go into the transfer portal.
Tennessee starts preseason practice on Aug. 5. Heupel said he’s pleased with the progress of both quarterbacks. But he knows the competition could impact the team beyond this season.
These Tennessee QBs entered portal after falling behind
It’s a common scenario in the portal era: Two blue-chip quarterbacks compete for the starting job. The winner stays. The loser ultimately leaves to try his luck at another school.
Heupel has gone through this a couple of times before at Tennessee.
In 2022, UT signed four-star quarterback Tayven Jackson. A year later, Jackson transferred to Indiana because five-star Nico Iamaleava arrived with a clear path to the starting job.
In 2024, UT signed four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger. A year later, Merklinger transferred to UConn because MacIntyre had pulled ahead of him in practice.
It’s reasonable to assume that it could happen again after the 2026 season, but that might depend on how the competition plays out.
What happens to Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre after 2026?
Heupel acknowledged that whoever he names as the starter must prove it in games. He recalls when Joe Milton started the first two games of the 2021 season, but Hendon Hooker ultimately took the job and never relinquished it.
That opens a wide range of possibilities.
If by season’s end, the best quarterback is unclear, both could return to compete in 2027. However, if UT struggles through a season-long quarterback carousel in 2026, it might dip into the portal for a transfer in 2027.
If Brandon is the best quarterback in 2026, it’s reasonable to believe that MacIntyre would transfer. That’s what happened when Jackson and Merklinger were overtaken by a younger, higher-rated quarterback.
If MacIntyre is the best quarterback in 2026, Brandon would have to consider how long he might wait for his turn at the starting job. MacIntyre is a redshirt freshman, so he’d be eligible for the NFL draft following the 2027 season. Brandon is a freshman, one year behind MacIntyre.
That’s jumping far ahead. But make no mistake that UT coaches consider the long-term ramifications of any quarterback battle, especially if it involves two young talents with plenty of eligibility.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Josh Heupel reveals hard truth about Tennessee football quarterback future
