# Tennessee QB competition: Josh Heupel reviews final scrimmage, discusses timeline for naming starter

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-22 23:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel evaluates his quarterback room following the final preseason scrimmage as the deadline for naming a starter approaches.

## Intelligence Brief
Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel is currently reviewing the results of the team's second and final preseason scrimmage to determine the starting quarterback for the upcoming season. The evaluation process follows a period of intense competition within the quarterback room, with Heupel now discussing the specific timeline for announcing his decision. During this final scrimmage, the coaching staff observed a range of performances that will inform the final selection. While the focus remains on the quarterbacks, Heupel also noted some positives regarding the performance of the Tennessee offensive line and defensive line during these drills. Extensive coverage of the competition has been provided by 247Sports, Rocky Top Insider, On3, and Yahoo Sports. Reports from On3 have specifically highlighted intel regarding the performances of Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre during the second fall scrimmage.


Meanwhile, the Knoxville News Sentinel has detailed the specific factors Heupel is mulling over before making his final choice. Analysis from Yahoo Sports and A to Z Sports suggests that a specific emerging factor in the battle should seal Heupel's decision, though coverage does not specify the exact nature of that factor. Rocky Top Insider has further detailed Heupel's comments on the quarterbacks and identified one specific area where the football program still needs to improve. This competition is a critical focal point for the Tennessee Vols as they transition from the preseason to active play. According to a positional preview from Sports Illustrated, the quarterback room is the primary area of scrutiny. The urgency of the situation is underscored by commentary from Yahoo Sports, which suggests that Heupel is running short on time to finalize this decision.


The stakes involve not only the selection of the starter but also the overall cohesion of the offense, which is why Heupel's review of the second scrimmage's takeaways is being closely watched by analysts and fans alike. Looking forward, the primary development to monitor is the official announcement of the starting quarterback. Following the intel gathered from the final scrimmage, Heupel is expected to provide a definitive timeline for the naming of the starter. Observers will be watching to see if the positives noted in the offensive and defensive lines translate to game-day success. Additionally, the program will need to address the area of improvement highlighted by Heupel following the second scrimmage to ensure the team is fully prepared for the start of the season.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Illustrated | Positional Preview: Tennessee Football's Quarterback Room | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxNY3pEM0Q2SXhJWjhGYmNDbk9jNWs1cVZrT2VqOHN1X1JOVlo2dUkya2NSeGJwQWZMMzFGOG9YdlgxdEdqbUhrQkxmU191YWx6cWs1akgtNklrcTllQjZ1VzgzX2NhcmNPVGpvRVRYTWxCWTZKVjVsU0M1TnBxNEVBSGpqbmNuYmFZUjlDZDM5WXpfVGxOd3ZpU3VYdVk3Tmp1R3BrdTFQSjE2cVVVblhBR29yaUVSdw?oc=5) |
| 247Sports | Heupel sees 'some positives' from Vols' O-line, D-line during second scrimmage | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi7gFBVV95cUxOM0JNMGpLaEhqWHh5aWFCRjdITXJNcEZOVjhQa1QtS2RYd09ZY1kxNHozeGtaQUZVWENLSDl2OHBZRENVdE1wcEQ2anFHR0p2ZlQ1dEFMMWJHQlJtc1k5emp0dWpyMGY2VUE4b3VLYUFmOTF2eVdBR1FabVBLZHI5S1ViRFFHb0x2eG52SGgwZXVrTU5xcmlsZlBzM01XVnMydXJqQkctcVhuNXJLQmVkb0pENVl3NmplMTVFVDlmMmhuY2dYNlRySzFLUmd5MGZfV3pLcFlETW9yNVFVX28zNmcwei1jSUJpdUMwajhB?oc=5) |
| Rocky Top Insider | What Josh Heupel Said About Tennessee Football's Quarterbacks Following Second Scrimmage | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiywFBVV95cUxORmhGVjFlaW9YQ0tpLTJtSlJZanQ5R1dDMG1sSjRXM2RCMXBDaWxJdnU5SGFjYWI4Q1RjQldiYld3WnUxSHB5Rm1KNEVVWkRqdE00V0xPRVFjV0JlWTFUMndGc0pxWUtpTjRfcnUwY3c4VU5FcHBhQkxuczA0S3VYa0tyWnBQVFRudjNaSFNFRFBVNWVpNlFDVUxiQ0o2a1lOVmlLM0ZKYVhPUVdHNHlmNnhfVnV1dUVXaHczcXFYenNGZUIxUWJnRTkyQQ?oc=5) |
| Rocky Top Insider | College Football Analyst Weighs In On Tennessee's Quarterback Battle, Who He Believes Is Leading | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4AFBVV95cUxPcTE4MHdablM4TjV6QURPSHhHMFpqOVg3X3BndnN6dmp2WEd3Ym1mVl84a1ZnMjRoal9VakZRWU5VVi1vSmRxai1vMjJ1UW5CS2VjSl91emFqLWxHbXBOc3R3Mm81V3JydUlXT2w3amRNdVJmMi1QWTRVTGxDMWlSbTJ1Qnlwa2hlTHFaQVNEZURiQUhTM1lZcVBMcTFST2VjaDNPSV9WY2pMcDJpZzFhMjVVNVNUd3JtUERHdml4QU5Yc3lTbVY3Y2xnVk5peHd2SFlnNnMyR1Z2eUNXQW1TYg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | One thing has emerged in Tennessee Vols' QB battle that should seal Josh Heupel's decision | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNajdSRFl3Rjk4bW04ak1aRnlaUXB2bHZLNnAtai1Gc055eWU2NmtkNXI2VmdfVm5ZRzhnVzRmMXJ1d0lKVUZjaE1RNUZDV1JYaUkwcDhyR3U3Y3NmOFB6LVRpamowUnAwanRGUEdxWU94a3VRTm4weEFjWWxhSjJ1cVgwZFkyWTdn?oc=5) |
| 247Sports | Takeaways and intel from Tennessee’s second preseason scrimmage | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi-AFBVV95cUxQS1IzYVo0WklKa2ZlaU1YcjJ5dnUyazZRREYyWUFxdlNReHBTMldHeDhReXlDQkRwRlRjQndIQk1QcmJyRXlPYThZeThMWFJRcElJZXhQS3Q1WF9PXzBBb0EyQTVmTXRFS2F3WGJaajRPeVhpem9hZmQyS1ViVFROUUFTemdZZHJHeHNkaDdkXzExQXlseEdtdVdtWjBLYjZXeFgtQ1gzR2hvNFFWSnp5LTFDa3YyS1VMNjNGdGZROVMtRHpsQ1JnUkhTcC11bUVBYThlb1RVWVZhYVpobnN0RTRiRXcxRHpzZ1RZM1kwUXIzNUlSQU9pYg?oc=5) |
| Knoxville News Sentinel | What Josh Heupel is mulling before naming Tennessee football starting QB | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAJBVV95cUxPaXp3S2dwTnoyOXRNc09PZDM4QlZHV2V0TjNFS0RuNkpxVDFMNTJ0aVJJdDdnZnNSaDc1YUY0WjhyTVBESzRPemMyRnV3VTlmZWRHclBabkhkY0N5MlN3MDU3SW5KNXRvaVNSdl9nV1lmUXdvemxfbHpYeEktTlRmWjlJbEY0cDh0OXcxR1BLeDZrVmwzQWo0NDRQUzB2LTdwWmRybUlScWtob2ZCb3pnZ1VWN1FkZnFEcU1jRjF2UC1TcGtSZXhPUW5udHFGQnE2WTl1NjFtVk05UVZDcF8zR1RmV2xoVlhpNnVpeVV5dXBaWTVJM28zQjJtUXBuYWtvemlpVGtHby1qTHFlNklTN2NlVDhIaTBHenV6OA?oc=5) |
| Rocky Top Insider | Josh Heupel Highlights One Area Tennessee Football Needs To Improve On After Second Scrimmage | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0wFBVV95cUxONVdBZnhzWHh0VXBucFZhUHBUa1JFdmZiQVRfY3kzYmZ3UklsTld2Z080MUFHVUd6dGhhOG5hQ0tEb1BURUhGekYxYXoyX2tiaDBlaFJFWGxvSXBEVFNWNThvTjRCRmhKNjIwQTh1eDlEeEVzU3lFZDU4amFBdmpkU2wyZjI3TlZNektabmo3cW1rNUdEa2Zac013ZnpmaUxmZEJ2VnpfTnpTQTF2UWcxemJITkFKdG1EY045ZllXRVdVM3BEOER6OTZZQUFOTVc1MjBz?oc=5) |
| On3 | Tennessee football intel: What we're hearing about Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre in second fall scrimmage | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizAFBVV95cUxPQTJZazVVRU1NTmI3N0tobEl4QmZpUjZndVd4OXkyaWVIbGF6Q0tGV0U0d3BPRGxab0x2T1lwNzhKMjFtS2lxTzdDaVhQbjJnSGFLOWg4WDJmQ1JDMkhUUmlGS0E4VDA3ekZBQVB1Skg3bmxmaExzQ091MHZEcnBaSVN0c2FfdFdIRWt2bFlabnA2d3JBY0E5Nk5VRE05TVk5VmZWT2lQT2FkYWJWeEdoSXF2Y2dCRzZ3NHRqcjF6OHFPTklJdWdXVlBrcTM?oc=5) |
| On3 | Tennessee football intel: What we're hearing about the Vols' second fall scrimmage | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxPVnR3MmpFZnotbnJzQmZhMWR5c0lCSy00UEhWeWVacE1HVXpnM0VpajJsUVpEVHpTTW9Pb3o2eE1KY3c3bjBDQUYzbjJjU1Jqdk1SQjJxbVZWTWZpQjZ4UjlpdlRVdmFSNW9wbVZDTTZPYWJvWHBJb25iNkF2YmFNWHpuRHUtVDJhUXc0QkhJemF0aVdTRno1dGVyREFBRTR0MWdMZXM4NFYtV0pfc3FXQnhFVlBmM3NtcVdUYw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | COMMENTARY: Josh Heupel running short on time for this decision | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxNRTU0aGIzREJqOHE2ZHhvZUVSSXY3LUs1aE4xeEZIeUFxQVRfckhwWXpWdW9PZzlPTWsxVFVFcFRxajRqdVV0c2g2LUkyNVJPQU9zY1pLR0Jjb2pqWks0T3IwdTBWV2Y3OENtWVp6QnZCajg5b1lOYTI5RS1VdWlmUzN1X1BxM0tLV1VXSVZB?oc=5) |
| A to Z Sports | One thing has emerged in Tennessee Vols' QB battle that should seal Josh Heupel's decision | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxPX1p2c0czNFRYZW1fMjRrSDN6OEhNcXktWkdDaFRnc2lfVUQtQVZrZlE0NXJyMmpTcml0SGtYajJEN19yOGRQSlFxbnY3RDFmcDROUGE3Sy1mTnZ3VF9sa1FqMlNwZEVTd0dCWVJWak1wVlJlTnZDM205R2FPQW5tOC16MnB5TFUwRFRKTlMxMnR3T1hLZVdkTVhZVnpSU2xMV3BIc1hoWXVfWnVVMHJ5c3dWZ3Y5QS10?oc=5) |
| 247Sports | Thoughts on Tennessee's quarterback competition after final preseason scrimmage | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwJBVV95cUxPOHRKeERpLUtTclhWUkZPWkQ5cXU5aTFwZkxGSHZUdXd5QUtDMnlvZFByUUVJMmtQM3NqQjVGOUJiOWJGaVJ6aUZtZjNPSGppNl9TQTJlUXFZSTBnUERKNXdueWViLURKVl81eVA0MVhUWFdheDVxR3ZHemxlb0hlTktRNnhrSXZuSDZVcTVWYTVjUlVlaXNsaENKaU5nM1BNLWE3eGlTNkl4RE50XzNKcUJWT0lSdHhjeDM0WE44T0FPd2JFU3dxZ2tqX2o3WThaelY3TWYxRFZ2WnlrME93MkJPN2tBYU1raFJPeEhRM2ZqN01NeWF0aGRUMkR5VUFtY2YtQ0pqMjBXS19QeUtld3RFVzdZUUlUTFNzWTNsT0FSN3ZYRmFfQm1oTXpCRlU?oc=5) |
| 247Sports | Tennessee QB competition: Josh Heupel reviews final scrimmage, discusses timeline for naming starter | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi9gFBVV95cUxOWUFval9BRFRqM3Vfd1lUUkNtVmtBQlNOQzkwTnFVZUk1SjhmRktUOHFsbEljQU1DdTVGQWNWS2g1NWlqN21Jc2Z6WXVLVGV6THhQZ3U1U0FxcV9rNVJtV1JUQ0d5S1Jucnh0bEQybEtUOTgyOEVINURkdHFpSlgzRkZZdFN5akYwTWdiUmgwbXdlOTRLM0lkcHBNWkxTeEJzUUZ4OHFrU0pfTHpOcWRsVEE5cUU2eXVKd3NTcGhXbHIzZHhaVzdXeF9LSXBOdEhHazl5bUE0eUZhRl8yc3hPYWRQejMxanNFRno3WVN4cl9YdG5wQ0E?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-22/tennessee-qb-competition-josh-heupel-reviews-final-scrimmage-discusses-timeline*