George MacIntyre will start at quarterback for No. 14 Tennessee for the second straight week when the Volunteers host No. 6 Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 17. ESPN reported it first, citing sources. Knox News, via Yahoo Sports, had a source confirm it. Rocky Top Talk credited Pete Thamel and Austin Price with the news on Thursday morning.
CBS Sports added that Tennessee listed Faizon Brandon as questionable with an injury. It described MacIntyre's first start against Arkansas as "rocky." Rocky Top Talk said MacIntyre has been the man under center since replacing Brandon during the Auburn game. None of the feed summaries we have say what Brandon's injury is. They also don't say whether the decision depends on his health or is a call on performance. Rocky Top Talk framed it as MacIntyre getting "the nod over" Brandon.
BenchScout's box scores back up the "rocky" description. MacIntyre went 18 of 29 for 247 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the 24-17 win at Arkansas. He also lost a fumble and had two carries for minus-6 yards. Before that start, his work was limited. He went 8 of 10 for 86 yards against Auburn, 1 of 3 for 6 yards against Texas, and 5 of 7 for 56 yards and a touchdown against Furman. He has no interceptions outside the Arkansas game.
Brandon's season shows why the position was open. He started the opener against Furman and went 13 of 17 for 226 yards and three touchdowns, and he also ran for two scores. Since then his passing lines have been modest. He threw for 145 yards against Texas on 17 of 29, and he was 3 of 8 for no yards and an interception against Auburn before MacIntyre came in. He has five fumbles this season and has lost one.
Tennessee is 5-1 and 2-1 in the SEC, fifth in the conference, and has won two straight. The Vols lost 20-17 to Texas on Sept. 26 and then beat Auburn 24-14. Alabama is also 5-1, 3-1 in conference and second in the SEC. Its only loss was 20-17 to Georgia last Saturday, and it had won 56-23 at Mississippi State and 49-18 against South Carolina before that.
Sat, Oct 17, 3:30 PM ET
The quarterback question now carries over to kickoff. Tennessee has not said whether Brandon will be available, and his questionable tag is the one open item before Saturday.
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