Heupel stays quiet on QB starter after Brandon benched in Auburn win
Josh Heupel declined to name a starting quarterback for Tennessee's Week 6 matchup against Arkansas, per his Monday press conference via ESPN's Pete Thamel.
The decision comes one game after Heupel benched Faizon Brandon in the first half against Auburn, replacing him with George MacIntyre. MacIntyre helped lead the Vols to a 24-14 comeback win, but the starting job for Saturday's road game against the Razorbacks is not confirmed.
"Faizon wasn't at his best," Heupel said. "Dealing with getting injured in the Texas game. It was affecting his game. We'll go through the week here and we'll find out Saturday."
Brandon's lingering injury from Tennessee's win over Texas has clouded the quarterback picture. Heupel noted Brandon "may be healthier this weekend" against Arkansas, but offered no commitment beyond that.
The starting quarterback for the Arkansas game is not confirmed.
THE AUBURN COMEBACK
Tennessee made the switch in the first half, pulling Faizon Brandon for George MacIntyre after the Vols fell behind.
The move changed the game's trajectory. MacIntyre helped lead the comeback, finishing 8-of-10 for 86 yards as Tennessee erased a halftime deficit to win 24-14 on Saturday night in Knoxville.
Brandon's night ended early after a rough stat line: 3-of-8 passing for 0 yards and an interception. The offense leaned heavily on running back DeSean Bishop after the switch, keeping the pressure off MacIntyre as he settled in.
The Vols improved to 4-1 with the win, but the quarterback picture remains murky heading into Week 6.
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE SWITCH
The stat lines tell the story of a night that split in two. Brandon went 3-of-8 for 0 yards and an interception before being pulled. MacIntyre finished 8-of-10 for 86 yards, completing 80 percent of his throws.
Tennessee won 24-14, improving to 4-1 on the season. The Vols trailed at halftime before the comeback, and the numbers shifted once MacIntyre took over.
The offense leaned heavily on running back DeSean Bishop after the switch, which kept the pressure off MacIntyre as he managed the game. The Vols now sit at 4-1, and a win over Arkansas on the road in Week 6 would move them to 5-1.
HEUPEL'S REACTION AND INJURY TALK
Josh Heupel did not put a timetable on when Tennessee’s quarterback picture would clear, but he did offer a reason for Brandon’s rough night against Auburn.
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“Faizon wasn’t at his best,” Heupel said in his weekly press conference Monday, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “Dealing with getting injured in the Texas game. It was affecting his game.”
The injury from Tennessee’s matchup with Texas is still lingering, per Heupel’s comments. He noted Brandon “may be healthier this weekend” against Arkansas, though he stopped short of guaranteeing anything.
The specific nature and severity of Brandon’s injury are not detailed in the source.
Heupel said the team will evaluate through the week before making a call on the starter. “We’ll go through the week here and we’ll find out Saturday,” he said.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Tennessee faces Arkansas on the road in Week 6, and the Vols will look to move to 5-1 with a win. But who takes the first snap in Fayetteville remains unresolved.
Who will start against the Hogs is not yet confirmed. Heupel said the team will evaluate through the week before making a call, with a decision expected Saturday.
Brandon may be healthier against Arkansas, per Heupel, though he stopped short of promising anything. The lingering effect of the Texas game injury is still part of the equation.
MacIntyre’s strong relief performance could factor into the decision. He finished 8-of-10 for 86 yards and helped spark the comeback win over Auburn, while Brandon went 3-of-8 for 0 yards and an interception before being benched.
Heupel’s own words leave the door open. “We’ll go through the week here and we’ll find out Saturday,” he said.
The Vols’ offense leaned heavily on running back DeSean Bishop after the switch, which could shape the game plan regardless of who lines up under center. Saturday’s decision will come after a full week of practice and evaluation, with no public hints yet from the coaching staff.
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