The University of Tennessee’s football program enters the 2026 season with a sense of urgency after a 2025 campaign that fell short of its recent standards.
The Volunteers will open the season on September 5 against FCS opponent Furman, a matchup that offers an early barometer for a team hoping to rebuild momentum.
Quarterback battle looms
A quarterback duel between George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon dominates the preseason narrative, with both players showcasing strong performances in summer drills and Brandon appearing to hold a slight edge.
Roster upgrades, a highly touted freshman class and the arrival of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles are being viewed as catalysts for a turnaround.
Head coach Josh Heupel, who has stabilized the program after years of inconsistency, knows that a loss to traditional SEC powers such as Kentucky or South Carolina could derail the early optimism.
Knowles replaces Tim Banks, bringing a reputation for defensive development; his units have historically shown marked improvement in their second year, offering a potential lift for a defense that ranked near the bottom of the SEC in 2025.
If the Volunteers can translate the new defensive scheme into performance and avoid the blowout defeats that plagued them against Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Missouri, the 2026 season could restore the program to its former prominence.