Tennessee's quarterback question looms over Heupel's plan for Alabama

Tennessee took a narrow win at Arkansas last weekend, but it did little to settle the Volunteers' biggest worry. With No. 6 Alabama coming to Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Josh Heupel still has to find an offense that can keep up.

Writing for Gameday Times, Melissa Fair called the quarterback spot the coaching staff's top question. George MacIntyre is expected to take the first snap. Fair noted that the passing game got a little better with him in the win in Fayetteville on Oct. 10, but it was not good enough to suggest Tennessee can beat a top-tier opponent through the air.

The other option is Faizon Brandon, who brings more as a runner but is dealing with a shoulder injury. Gameday Times cited Yahoo Sports reporting that the injury will not need surgery, though how serious it is remains unclear. If Brandon is healthy enough to play, Fair argued, Heupel will need a creative way to use both quarterbacks. Neither one has shown he can take over a game against a defense like Alabama's.

The matchup

The No. 14 Volunteers (5-1) host the Crimson Tide (5-1) at 3:30 p.m. EDT Saturday on ABC. Alabama's only loss came 20-17 to Georgia, a game Gameday Times saw as proof of the Tide's standing, since Georgia may be the best team in the country. Fair also pointed to the gap between the two offenses. Alabama has put up big point totals all season, while Tennessee has had trouble scoring.

The market agrees with that read. Alabama is favored at -317 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, and DraftKings has the Tide at -325. Tennessee is getting 8.5 points, and the total sits at 52.5. Full pricing is on the Alabama at Tennessee odds page.

The recent history of the Third Saturday in October has been closer than the all-time record, which favors Alabama 61-40-7. Tennessee won 52-49 at home in 2022 and 24-17 at home in 2024. Alabama won 37-20 in Tuscaloosa last season. The Neyland crowd can even things out to a degree, but Fair wrote that the offense has to hold up its end.

A lot rides on the result. Fair wrote that a win could put a College Football Playoff berth within reach for Tennessee, while a loss could leave the Vols headed for a solid but unremarkable season.

The game also brings together two coaches who have known each other for more than 20 years. Heupel and Kalen DeBoer meet in a game that could shape both of their seasons. As Gameday Times put it, Tennessee needs "an offense that works, not just a defense that holds."

The Razorbacks (2-4), fresh off their loss to Tennessee, play at Vanderbilt (3-3) on Saturday night at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. The Commodores are favored at -212 on Novig and are 6.5-point favorites on the Arkansas at Vanderbilt odds page.