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Tennessee prepares for 2026 season opener against Furman

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 4:45 PM

Last updated Sep 4, 2026

Tennessee prepares for 2026 season opener against Furman

Summary

Tennessee begins its 2026 football season Saturday with a home matchup against Furman. The game serves as an initial evaluation for several positional uncertainties, most the performance of starting quarterback Faizon Brandon. Head coach Josh Heupel will also look to determine the rotation at wide receiver, where a clear third option has yet to emerge among several candidates. Defensively, the program faces questions regarding the pass rush following recent personnel changes and must adapt the secondary after the loss of Edrees Farooq for the season. George MacIntyre is expected to see action at quarterback in the second half. The coaching staff plans to cross-train players like Qua Moss across multiple defensive back positions to address depth concerns.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Faizon Brandon starts at quarterback for Tennessee.
•George MacIntyre is expected to play in the second half.
•The defensive coaching staff is testing new personnel following the injury of Edrees Farooq.
•Competition continues for the third wide receiver role among several players.

Latest Updates

4:45 PMYahoo Sports — Four things I’m watching in Tennessee — Furman

What they're saying

"
We’re a day away from the start of Tennessee’s 2026 season, and naturally, like any season, there are plenty of question marks and unknowns going into the season opener. Perhaps even more this year than in a number of previous years, to be honest. As such, Saturday’s contest against Furman will be Tennessee’s first chance […]
— Yahoo Sports

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