Heupel may not have a choice if there are only two scholarship quarterbacks on the 2026 roster.
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“Unless we can sign Philip Rivers to a free agent contract,” Heupel said on Dec. 18, joking about the 44-year-old NFL quarterback who recently came out of retirement. “There have been years where that’s happened to us, where we’ve had to play with a third (quarterback). So you don’t want to do that, but it’s happened before.”
The question is whether the Vols will look for an established starter in the portal or a less proven option who can compete with youngsters George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon for the starting job in 2026. Heupel did not reveal his approach on the matter.
Heupel attempted to address the sensitive and polarizing topic of Tennessee’s 2026 quarterback situation during his final press conference before a brief Christmas break.
No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville. The Vols are practicing on campus and will transition to the bowl site on December 26.
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But with the transfer portal opening on Jan. 2, many of the questions Heupel faced were about his quarterback plans for the 2026 season.
“There are moving pieces,” Heupel said. “As we finish (the bowl) and enter the portal, with everything that’s going on with Joey and those pieces, we’ll look to put (the quarterback) in a position to help us compete for a championship.”
Why Tennessee should add a quarterback from the transfer portal
Heupel acknowledged that UT must add a third quarterback, regardless of that player’s potential to be an immediate starter.
Aguilar, the 2025 starter, has exhausted his eligibility unless there is movement in Diego Pavia’s lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules for former college players. Backup Jake Merklinger plans to enter the transfer portal.
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“Jake made a decision that he felt was right for him and we support him,” Heupel said. “Jake has been a great teammate while he’s been here, growing up and competing.”
That leaves only MacIntyre and Brandon on the projected depth chart for 2026. The Vols need at least three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, so they’ll likely add one from the portal unless Aguilar’s situation changes. Heupel said he will be transparent with MacIntyre and Brandon about the quarterback’s plans once they are resolved.
“You have to be honest in today’s landscape so your players trust you consistently,” Heupel said. “Ultimately, the information is also available to everyone. Being transparent and open in those lines of communication is really important.”
Is Tennessee still hoping Joey Aguilar returns?
There is still a glimmer of hope that Aguilar can get an extra season of eligibility. But there is no definitive end to the Pavia lawsuit, and UT can’t afford to wait long.
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Heupel said he hasn’t set a deadline for giving up hope that Aguilar will return. But rest assured, UT has prepared to move forward.
UT football coaches and scouting staff are evaluating quarterbacks looking to enter the portal, and there will be plenty of high-priced options. And those football staff members are working with UT’s NIL operations office and third-party NIL sponsors to manage the budget.
After all, UT also has multiple portal needs on defense to give new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles the players he needs to succeed.
What Josh Heupel said about George MacIntyre
MacIntyre will serve as Aguilar’s backup at the Music City Bowl after Merklinger opted not to head to the portal. Heupel said the young quarterback continues to develop.
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“(MacIntyre has shown) continued growth and understanding, as simple as receiving a signal and being able to communicate,” Heupel said. “His command of what we’re doing (and) decision-making (has improved). He’s also had a good preparation for the bowl here.”
Tennessee’s interest in the transfer market does not diminish the value of MacIntyre and Brandon. Coaches believe both have the potential to start early in their careers. But there’s no guarantee they’ll be ready for that role immediately in 2026, which creates a difficult decision.
MacIntyre, a former Brentwood Academy standout, was a four-star recruit in the class of 2025. He has played in just two games as a freshman, completing 7 of 9 passes for 69 yards.
Brandon was a five-star signee and was ranked the No. 3 quarterback in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite. But he hasn’t played in college yet. He will enroll in January and participate in spring practice.
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Heupel admits difficulties over quarterback issue
Under the new college football schedule, there is only one portal window. Therefore, UT won’t have a second chance in the spring to add a transfer quarterback if MacIntyre and Brandon aren’t ready to go.
But if UT adds a transfer quarterback, especially one with several years of eligibility, it could create a conflict among the returning quarterbacks.
Heupel acknowledged the stress of that situation.
“It’s really tough. December used to be one of the best months in college football. I wouldn’t call it that in the current state,” Heupel said. “You’re navigating a lot of different pieces at the same time. This is still the best game out there. It’s just different than it used to be.
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“But I’m not going to sit here and complain about it. It is what it is.”
Adam Sparks is Tennessee’s football reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel: What Josh Heupel had to say about Tennessee football’s QB transfer portal pursuit