Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre starts three straight games as Heupel stays silent
The gist
Tennessee sophomore quarterback George MacIntyre made his first career start at Arkansas and has started three straight games.
Heupel has not publicly named him starter, leaving the job officially open.
How it unfolded
- Oct 10, 2026MacIntyre gets the nod against Arkansas in Fayetteville, replacing five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, who was listed as questionable on the SEC student-athlete availability report.
- Nov 2, 2026Wide receiver Braylon Staley says MacIntyre 'took the role over' and has 'grown a lot'; Heupel declines to publicly name a starter.
- Nov 3, 2026Reports note MacIntyre threw for 247 yards, a season-high against FBS competition, in his first start at Arkansas, rallying the Vols from a 14-7 third-quarter deficit.
Key terms
- SEC
- An annual preseason media event for the Southeastern Conference, a U.S. college athletic conference based in Birmingham, Alabama.
- QBR
- A proprietary ESPN statistic grading quarterback performance in American football, incorporating passing, rushing, turnovers and penalties.
- FBS
- The highest level of college football in the United States, comprising NCAA Division I member teams.
Source: Wikipedia