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Freshman QB to Lead Tennessee in 2026 Opener
5 Sep
Summary
- True freshman Faizon Brandon will make his first start at quarterback for Tennessee.
- The Volunteers are aiming for a better record than their 8-5 finish in 2025.
- New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles makes his debut for Tennessee.
The 2026 college football season commences for Tennessee this Saturday as they host Furman at Neyland Stadium. The Volunteers enter the season seeking improvement after concluding the 2025 campaign with an 8-5 record and a Music City Bowl loss to Illinois.
Under head coach Josh Heupel, now in his sixth season, Tennessee will showcase several new players. A major storyline is the debut of true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who secured the starting role over fellow freshman George MacIntyre. Brandon, a highly-touted recruit, will lead the offense in his first collegiate start.
The Volunteers' defense also features a new leader in coordinator Jim Knowles, who takes over after Tennessee conceded an average of 28.9 points per game in 2025. His first game at the helm will be closely watched.
Meanwhile, Furman has already played one game this season, defeating Anderson University 20-3 on August 27. Head coach Clay Hendrix enters his tenth season with the Paladins, who face a formidable task against Tennessee in their home opener, despite having the advantage of an earlier start to their season.
