The Tennessee Volunteers make the final decision on who will begin the 2026 season as the starting quarterback, despite a competitive battle taking shape in fall camp.
The Tennessee Volunteers are continuing preparations for their 2026 season opener against the Furman Paladins, who will travel to Knoxville on Sept. 5. While the matchup itself may not have drawn as much attention as some other games, Tennessee’s numerous position battles have made the lead-up to the opener particularly intriguing.
The Vols have had several important competitions throughout fall camp, including battles for the third wide receiver spot, starting safety job, EDGE positions and the temporary replacement for Arion Carter during the first two games. However, none has received more attention than the quarterback competition.
The race for the starting quarterback job primarily came down to two players, although veteran Ryan Staub was also considered by some to have an outside chance. The main contenders were second-year quarterback George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon, both of whom entered camp with a legitimate opportunity to take control of the offense.
Tennessee had not established a specific timeline for announcing its decision, but there was growing speculation that the coaches would settle on a starter after the team’s second scrimmage of fall camp. The Vols followed a similar approach last season when Joey Aguilar and Jake Merklinger competed for the starting role, with Aguilar ultimately getting the nod. Tennessee announced that decision shortly after its second scrimmage.
With the quarterback competition extending through the second scrimmage this year, Tennessee’s coaching staff has now made its decision on who will enter the 2026 season as the starting quarterback. Of course, the depth chart can always change once the season gets underway, but the Vols have officially settled on their initial starter.
Faizon Brandon Announced as Tennessee Football’s Starting Quarterback
Tennessee has officially named true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon as its starter, giving the highly touted signal-caller the edge over the other contenders in the Vols’ quarterback competition.
Brandon entered the competition with an impressive résumé. The former five-star prospect was once ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the country, making it no surprise that he was expected to make a strong push for the starting job. However, the NCAA’s recent five-for-five eligibility ruling added another layer to the decision, allowing players to remain in college longer and making Tennessee’s choice about both the present and the future. Brandon’s performance throughout fall camp ultimately helped him separate himself from the competition.
Brandon’s first opportunity to lead the offense will come against Furman, though Tennessee fans could still see plenty of both quarterbacks. Given the significant talent gap between the Vols and the Paladins, the coaching staff should have an opportunity to get both signal-callers meaningful reps in the season opener.
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