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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Teresa M. Walker The Associated Press
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has made several changes to the program in an effort to meet high expectations after last season's 8-5 record. These changes include hiring new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and strength coach Derek Owings, as well as adding transfers such as lineman Ory Williams from LSU. The Vols' offense is not a concern, ranking sixth nationally in scoring last season with an average of 39.8 points per game, but finding a reliable starting quarterback is a priority for Heupel. With the season opener just around the corner on September 5 against Furman, Heupel believes "somebody will go out there and earn it" to claim the starting spot.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
No. 20 Tennessee football team is looking to meet high expectations this season, led by new coach Josh Heupel. Despite a strong offense that scored 39.8 points per game last season, ranking them sixth nationally, Heupel has made several key changes in an effort to improve the team's performance. These include replacing the defensive coordinator after a disappointing loss to Vanderbilt and hiring a new strength coach from Indiana. Additionally, Heupel is searching for a new starting quarterback, with Faizon Brandon emerging as a top contender at 6-4 and 225 pounds. The team has high expectations, with a waiting list for season tickets, but Heupel remains optimistic that the changes will pay off.
Written for “Tennessee Football Season” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 1649 · logged 2026-08-31
No. 20 Tennessee
2025 record: 8-5
Expectations
Josh Heupel didn’t wait for Tennessee’s underwhelming season to end with another disappointing loss in a bowl game to start making changes.
asserted
season → wait → changes
Now it’s time to see if they work at a program where expectations are as high as the waiting list for season tickets.
asserted
expectations → ’ → tickets
Heupel fired his defensive coordinator after an ugly home loss to in-state rival Vanderbilt and replaced him with Jim Knowles, the guy whose Ohio State defense smothered Tennessee in the 2024 College Football Playoff.
asserted
defense → fire → Playoff
Hours after the national championship game, Heupel also hired Derek Owings away from Indiana as his new strength coach.
asserted
Heupel → hire → coach
Offense isn’t a problem for Tennessee, and the Vols ranked sixth nationally scoring 39.8 points a game last season.
asserted
Vols → rank → points
Yet Heupel needs another new starting quarterback.
asserted
Heupel → need → quarterback
George MacIntyre, who threw nine passes as a freshman last season, is a slendert 6-foot-6 and 208 pounds.
asserted
who → throw → freshman
Faizon Brandon was the No. 3 ranked quarterback for 2026 by 247Sports who got to campus in January.
asserted
who → rank → January
Brandon also has the size at 6-4 and 225 pounds, but he just turned 18 in June.
asserted
he → have → June
“Somebody will go out there and earn it,” Heupel said.
asserted
Heupel → go → it
The clock is ticking with the season opener Sept. 5 against Furman.
asserted
clock → tick → Furman
Strengths mean the Vols will lean heavily on the run
The Vols have five starters back on the offensive line led by guard Wendell Moe Jr.
asserted
Vols → mean → Jr.
David Sanders Jr. has switched from right tackle where he started six games as a freshman to left tackle, and Heupel also landed lineman Ory Williams from LSU and fifth-year guard Donovan Haslam from West Virginia through the transfer portal.
asserted
Heupel → switch → portal
That experience on the offensive line will only help an offense that averaged 173.5 yards a game led by DeSean Bishop who ran for 1,076 with 16 touchdowns.
asserted
who → help → touchdowns
Whoever starts at quarterback should benefit from facing Knowles’ defense.
asserted
starts → start → defense
Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle compared that to grad school for quarterbacks facing an “elite schemer.”
asserted
Halzle → compare → schemer
The quarterback also will benefit from having Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley leading a talented receiving corps.
asserted
Matthews → benefit → corps
Weaknesses could include spots on the defense
Learning
uncertain
Weaknesses → include → defense
Knowles’ defense traditionally has taken time at the coordinator’s previous stops.
asserted
defense → take → stops
Heupel specifically made sure to bring in three assistant coaches along with players familiar with what Knowles wants.
asserted
Knowles → make → what
The Vols also lost their top edge rusher this offseason leaving them thin at that spot.
asserted
Vols → lose → spot
Chaz Coleman, who followed Knowles from Penn State, was medically disqualified in June.
asserted
who → follow → June
LB Arion Carter will miss the first two games suspended by the NCAA over an airplane ticket when testing out his NFL draft stock.
asserted
Carter → miss → stock
New faces
Brandon and WR TK Keys are freshmen who could play very early.
uncertain
who → play → ?
Knowles and Owings have brought a boost to the coaching staff.
asserted
Knowles → bring → staff
Ryan Staub brings much-needed experience to the quarterbacks room from Colorado.
asserted
Staub → bring → Colorado
The portal also brought Williams, CB Kayin Lee from Auburn and a trio from Penn State led by DT Xavier Gilliam, LB Amare Campbell and S Dejuan Lane.
asserted
portal → bring → Gilliam
