Tennessee benches five-star freshman QB Faizon Brandon during Auburn game after interception

Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon was benched during the first half of Tennessee's game against Auburn after throwing his first career interception. Backup George MacIntyre took over and led the Vols to victory. The move raised immediate questions about Brandon's status as the starter and the trajectory of a highly touted prospect in his first collegiate season. Brandon, the No. 3 overall quarterback and No. 2 prospect out of North Carolina by the 247Sports Composite, is Tennessee's first true freshman to start at quarterback since 2004, per Sporting News. Tennessee punted on each of its first four drives. Brandon led the team to a field goal drive in the second quarter to make it 3-0, but then threw the interception that prompted head coach Josh Heupel to pull him from the game. Brandon finished three-for-eight passing for zero net yards passing, with negative yardage on the ground. MacIntyre, a sophomore who took a redshirt last season, came in and finished the game with eight completions for 86 yards. A former four-star prospect rated as the No. 13 overall signal-caller in the class of 2025 and No. 2 overall prospect from Tennessee by 247Sports, MacIntyre had seen action for a series the previous week against Texas when Brandon came out with an injury before briefly returning, per Sporting News. Tennessee's offense was driven by running back DeSean Bishop, who had 220 yards and three touchdowns. The Vols won the game with MacIntyre under center.