newsweek
When the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers host No. 6 Alabama in the storied "Third Saturday in October" rivalry, they will do so with George MacIntyre under center. The sophomore has been tapped as the starter, according to Pete Thamel, as freshman Faizon Brandon remains sidelined with an injury.
This will be MacIntyre's second straight start. In Tennessee's 24-17 victory over Arkansas last week, he threw for 247 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Now he faces a much tougher test against an Alabama defense eager to bounce back after allowing Georgia's Gunner Stockton to pass for 249 yards.
Brandon, the highly touted freshman, has been out since suffering a right shoulder injury in the team's 20-17 loss to Texas in September. He made a brief appearance against Auburn on Oct. 3 before giving way to MacIntyre. Since then, Brandon has been limited in practice and was listed as questionable on Wednesday's SEC Availability Report.
Earlier this week, head coach Josh Heupel commended MacIntyre for being "decisive" but emphasized the need for the entire team to protect the football better. On Thursday, On3's Pete Nakos suggested the possibility of Tennessee using both quarterbacks against Alabama, which could create unique challenges for the Crimson Tide, especially given Brandon's rushing ability. The freshman has rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries this season, adding another dimension alongside running backs DeSean Bishop and Daune Morris.
Key Analysis
Despite riding a two-game winning streak, Tennessee enters the matchup as a 7.5-point home underdog at DraftKings Sportsbook. Both teams have just one loss in SEC play and overall, making this game crucial for SEC Championship and College Football Playoff aspirations. Alabama needs to win out, while Tennessee clings to a slim hope of reaching the SEC title game. The pressure is immense for both squads as they square off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Originally reported by newsweek.