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Why George MacIntyre should expect to play as Tennessee backup QB
George MacIntyre will back up freshman starter Faizon Brandon at Tennessee, but history under Josh Heupel suggests he'll still see meaningful snaps. The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports backup quarterbacks have started 14 games in Heupel's tenure, and MacIntyre is expected to play early against non-conference opponents.
George MacIntyre will serve as Tennessee's backup quarterback behind five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, a role that has historically brought meaningful playing time under coach Josh Heupel, as reported by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Heupel named Brandon the starter on Aug. 24 for when No. 18 Tennessee opens against Furman on Sept. 5 at Neyland Stadium. MacIntyre, who threw nine passes while backing up Joey Aguilar last season, lost the competition but is expected to get on the field early in the season.
MacIntyre likely will play against Furman and Kennesaw State (Sept. 19), games where the Vols are expected to be heavy favorites, with a challenging trip to Georgia Tech (Sept. 12) in between, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
The freshman quarterback was rated the nation's No. 3 quarterback and No. 10 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He threw for 6,374 yards and 79 touchdowns, rushed for 1,261 yards and 21 more scores, and helped Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, win back-to-back state titles.
Heupel's track record with backups
Under Heupel, Tennessee's backup quarterback in the season opener has started 14 games as a replacement later in the season — 11 by Hendon Hooker in 2021, two by Joe Milton in 2022 and one by Nico Iamaleava in 2023, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
In 2021, Hooker began as Milton's backup but replaced an injured Milton and started the final 11 games. Milton then played in relief of an injured Hooker in a loss to Ole Miss.
In 2022, Hooker was the starter with Milton as the backup, but after Hooker suffered a season-ending injury, Milton started the final two games and won the Orange Bowl MVP.
In 2023, Milton opted out of the Citrus Bowl with encouragement from UT coaches, allowing backup Iamaleava to start; Iamaleava won the Citrus Bowl MVP.
In 2024, Iamaleava missed the entire second half of the Mississippi State game with concussion-like symptoms, and backup Gaston Moore finished off the win. In 2025, backup Jake Merklinger wasn't called upon for meaningful snaps, as Joey Aguilar avoided injuries.
MacIntyre was aware of that history before the competition with Brandon intensified.
"There are a lot of different outcomes. I think it's played out different ways here with Joe and Hendon and all the other quarterbacks they've had here," MacIntyre said on Aug. 5.
Brandon's path to the starting job
Brandon beat out MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub in a competitive offseason battle, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel. MacIntyre entered spring camp as the presumptive favorite, but Brandon's rapid development after enrolling early in January changed the picture.
Heupel said Brandon showed control and command of Tennessee's offense, including fundamentals, technique, dropping back, and run-pass option plays.
The 6-foot-4 Brandon was rated 0.9939 by scouts, ranking as the 11th-highest-rated recruit to sign with Tennessee and the second-highest-rated quarterback signee in program history, trailing only Iamaleava. He was the 2024 North Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year and posted a 35-1 record with two state titles at Grimsley.
Brandon is the second true freshman ever to start a season for Tennessee and the first since 2004, when Brent Schaeffer opened the season before freshman Erik Ainge went 7-2 the rest of the way, helping Tennessee go 10-3 and win the SEC East. Schaeffer transferred after that season.
Brandon, who will become the 13th true freshman in school history to start at quarterback, is expected to face Texas on Sept. 26 at home, before the Vols' first SEC game and the conference's debut of a nine-game league schedule in 2026.
For MacIntyre, the message is clear: stay ready, because the backup role under Heupel tends to matter.
How this outlet told it
Knoxville News-Sentinel
Framing: Focuses on the backup role for MacIntyre, not the starter announcement — Analytical and forward-looking, focused on opportunities for MacIntyre rather than the starter's achievement.
Facts Included:
George MacIntyre will serve as backup quarterback
Under Heupel, Tennessee backup quarterbacks have started 14 games
MacIntyre expected to play in early-season games against non-conference opponents
MacIntyre knew the history of Heupel's backups before the competition
Heupel's past backups include Hendon Hooker, who replaced an injured Milton in 2021 and started the final 11 games; Milton started as backup in 2022 and started the season
MacIntyre played in relief of an injured starter in a loss to Ole Miss in 2022?
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimJosh Heupel will start Faizon Brandon at quarterback when No. 20 Tennessee opens the season on Sept. 5 against Furman.
ClaimBrandon threw for 6,374 yards and 79 touchdowns and rushed for 1,261 yards and 21 more scores while helping Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, win back-to-back state titles.
ClaimBrandon joins Brent Schaeffer, who opened the 2004 season as the starting quarterback before another freshman, Erik Ainge, went 7-2 the rest of the season, helping Tennessee go 10-3 and win the Southeastern Conference East title.
ClaimOther freshmen to start for Tennessee during their first college seasons include Peyton Manning in 1994, Casey Clausen, Tyler Bray, Josh Dobbs and Nico Iamaleava in the 2023 Citrus Bowl.
ClaimHeupel said Brandon showed control and command of what the Vols do offensively, including fundamentals, technique, dropping back, and run-pass option plays.
ClaimIn Heupel's five seasons at Tennessee, his backup quarterback in the season opener ultimately started 14 games as a replacement later in the season — 11 by Hendon Hooker in 2021, two by Joe Milton in 2022 and one by Nico Iamaleava in 2023.
ClaimIn 2021, Hooker started the season as Milton's backup, but Hooker ultimately replaced an injured Milton and started the final 11 games of the season.
ClaimIn 2022, Hooker was the starter with Milton as the backup, but Hooker suffered a season-ending injury, and Milton started the final two games and won the Orange Bowl MVP.
ClaimIn 2023, Milton opted out of the Citrus Bowl with the encouragement of UT coaches to let backup Nico Iamaleava start, and Iamaleava won the Citrus Bowl MVP.
ClaimIn 2024, Iamaleava missed the entire second half of the Mississippi State game with concussion-like symptoms, and backup Gaston Moore finished off the win.
ClaimMacIntyre said on Aug. 5 that there are a lot of different outcomes and it's played out different ways with Joe and Hendon and all the other quarterbacks they've had there.
ClaimMacIntyre likely will get playing time early in the season, even as the backup, against Furman (Sept. 5) and Kennesaw State (Sept. 19), sandwiched around a tough trip to Georgia Tech (Sept. 12).
ClaimUSA Today revealed that what finally separated Brandon in the final week of August camp was his elite downfield passing and inherent trust in his wide receivers to make plays in single coverage.