RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) during the Vols' first spring football practice in Knoxville on March 16, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Tennessee Volunteers are less than a month away from kicking off the 2026 season. The team is set to take on FCS Furman to open the season on September 5.
2025 was definitely a disappointing season for the Vols, all things considered. The team finished with eight wins after winning 10, nine, and 11 games in the previous three seasons. As a result, expectations are high for the 2025 season thanks to some solid portal additions, an impactful freshman class, and a new defensive coordinator.
There are plenty of questions surrounding this team, though. Today, let’s go over the three biggest questions we have for the 2026 season.
Who will win the quarterback battle?
We have to start with an obvious one. The Vols are hosting what is one of the most talked about quarterback battles in the country this summer as George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon fight for the job.
Both quarterbacks have the pedigree, but neither has the experience. No matter who wins the job, the Vols will be forced to throw a young passer into an SEC gauntlet. By all accounts, both passers have impressed this summer, with Brandon probably having a slight edge.
This is the most important question on the team. It’s hard to project anything for the season when you don’t know what you’ll get out of the quarterback position.
Can the Vols win every game they SHOULD win?
Josh Heupel has brought stability to the Vols and the program is much healthier than it was before he arrived. But, if there’s one thing to nitpick, it’s the random stinker the Vols have every season.
In 2025, it was the blowout loss to Vanderbilt. In 2024, it was the inexcusable loss at Arkansas. In 2023, it was the blowout loss at Missouri. You get the point- it’s a recurring problem. With nine SEC games now, there’s even less room for error.
If that trend continues, it would stand to reason the team would lose to Kentucky or South Carolina this season. A loss like that could torpedo the season and prove that the yearly egg is going to continue to be laid.
Will the defense be noticeably better?
Out goes Tim Banks, and in comes Jim Knowles. Knowles is one of the most respected defensive minds in the game and he’s been in charge of some of the most fearsome units of the last decade. Many have pointed out that Knowles’ defenses usually struggle in Year 1, though, so will that be the case again?
It may take a year or two for the unit to become elite, but it should easily be better overall than it was a year ago. In 2025, the Vols were 91st in scoring defense, 73rd in rushing defense, and 113th in passing defense. It’s hard to imagine a Knowles defense finishing that low, even with the amount of roster turnover.
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