ESPN names biggest weakness for Tennessee ahead of 2026 season
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The Tennessee Volunteers face an important 2026 season under coach Josh Heupel. Having missed out on the Playoff last year, Rocky Top faithful will be itching to get back to the 12-team field this fall.
However, uncertainty at the sport’s biggest position is a potential weakness for the 2026 Vols, as last year’s star QB, Joey Aguilar, had his request for another season of eligibility denied by the court system.
ESPN named the biggest strengths and weaknesses for every 2026 top 25 squad, where the Vols rank No. 25, and Harry Lyles Jr. explained why the QB position is cause for concern in Knoxville:
Weakness: Uncertainty at quarterback. With plenty of talent and continuity on the offensive line, along with skill players, there’s reason to be confident that whoever ultimately wins the starting job will have success. Especially under Heupel. But Joey Aguilar losing his injunction for an extra season of eligibility provides a level of uncertainty at the position, with redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub battling for the starting spot.
Could MacIntyre, Brandon or Staub turn into a solid starting QB? That’s absolutely possible, but we’ll have to see how things play out starting on Sept. 5 when the Vols host Furman at Neyland Stadium.
Can the Vols make another Playoff push? Here’s what the odds on Kalshi say:
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Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
