Knoxville, Tenn. — Tennessee football’s quarterback question is the main storyline as the Vols prepare to host Alabama on Saturday at Neyland Stadium, with redshirt freshman George MacIntyre coming off his first career start.
MacIntyre started Saturday and helped Tennessee beat Arkansas 24-17. He threw for 247 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Trent Thomas said he was impressed with MacIntyre’s pocket presence and confidence delivering the ball after taking hits.
Freshman Faizon Brandon hurt his shoulder in the Tennessee loss to Texas and was ineffective in limited action against Auburn before MacIntyre’s larger role. Coverage of the Alabama week said Heupel has again been coy about Brandon’s health and who will start against the Crimson Tide, while MacIntyre’s 247-yard outing against Arkansas gave the staff a recent data point.
In SEC play, the rushing game has been the catalyst for the Vols’ recent wins. Receiver Braylon Staley said the wide receiver room has to stay dialed in blocking to help the run game and open the pass. Alabama-side coverage noted DeSean Bishop’s big rushing days and framed Saturday as a must-win atmosphere for playoff seeding talk on both sides.
The Vols will host Alabama on Saturday with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. University of Tennessee Knoxville game days turn Knox County into a campus-and-stadium corridor from Ayers Hall to the river, and the quarterback answer will shape how Tennessee tries to keep Alabama from loading the box against the run.
Whether MacIntyre gets another start or Brandon returns healthy, Saturday’s rivalry in Knoxville hinges on whether Tennessee can protect the football, sustain drives and force Alabama to respect the pass after weeks of run-heavy SEC wins.
