Tennessee Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Volunteers in 2026

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel might’ve won too many games too early. Now, the standard in Knoxville is College Football Playoff or bust.

The Volunteers scored points at will last season, but a leaky defense held them back during the biggest moments. This season, it’s on new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to mold a struggling unit into a group that gets off the field against high-quality opponents.

On offense, the conversation starts and ends with the quarterback position. Highly touted recruit Faizon Brandon will compete with George MacIntyre for the QB1 role. Heupel’s offense lends itself to inexperienced quarterbacks, but he desperately needs to get this decision right.

If this group comes together, the Vols can compete in a loaded SEC and make a push for the CFP. If Tennessee gets stuck in the league’s meaty middle again, Heupel’s job could come under scrutiny next season.

Here are five bold predictions for Tennessee in 2026.

5 Bold Predictions for Tennessee for the 2026 College Football Season

Tennessee Will Not Make the 12-Team Playoff

For all the positives surrounding Tennessee entering a new season, there are simply too many unknowns to outright say this team is a sure-fire playoff team.

The defense has plenty of new faces and will need time to adjust to Knowles’ system. The offense has a major unknown at quarterback, with Faizon and MacIntyre set to battle it out deep into fall camp. Couple all the newness with a loaded schedule that features helmet games against Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU, and you have a recipe for a team that has a ton of swing potential.

Heupel-led teams always score points. But how quickly this defense gets up to speed could mean the difference between another above-average campaign or a College Football Playoff berth.

The Vols will be good, not great, and once again finish in the 8-4 range and just miss out on a CFP appearance.

Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre Will Split Reps at Quarterback

This isn’t exactly a scorching hot take, but in all likelihood, both Brandon and MacIntyre will split reps at the QB1 position, especially early in the season.

Last season, the Vols struck gold with transfer Joey Aguilar. This season, they’re entrusting their fate to a pair of inexperienced signal-callers with aspirations of breaking onto the scene.

Brandon is a highly-touted recruit who hails from Greensboro, North Carolina. He won back-to-back state titles and amassed a 35-1 record on Friday nights. He arguably has the highest ceiling of the two players.

But don’t count out MacIntyre. He spent time in the Heupel system last season as a backup and has the physical tools to be an enticing prospect at some point in his career.

Both players will likely get first-team reps, especially early in the campaign.

New Coordinator Jim Knowles Will Immediately Improve the Vols’ Defense

Last season, the Vols’ defense leaked like a sieve. That group gave up 30 or more points on eight different occasions and was a big reason why Tennessee finished 8-5, despite possessing another prolific offense under Heupel.

In 2026, Knowles will look to instill better fundamentals and bring an attacking edge to a defense in desperate need of one. One reason to be bullish on Knowles in Year 1 is that he brought over a handful of former Penn State players with him to Knoxville.

Safety Dejuan Lane, linebacker Amare Campbell and standout defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam should be able to help teach Knowles’ system to players already on the roster.

Slow starts are always a concern with Knowles at the helm. But there’s almost no way this unit is worse this season.

Tennessee WR Mike Matthews Will Be the Vols' New Leading Pass Catcher in 2026

Last season, Chris Brazzell II was arguably the most productive wide receiver in the SEC. He tallied a league-high 1,017 yards and chipped in nine touchdowns. Now, he’s off to the NFL, which means the Vols will have a new leading pass catcher in 2026.

Two names to watch to fill in Brazzell II’s production are returners Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews. Those two combined for over 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns last season – and should be the focal points of the passing game now that Brazzell II is no longer in Knoxville.

Matthews, in particular, has star receiver written all over him. He’ll likely get a steady diet of passes this season and could be a breakout player for the Vols if he stays healthy this season.

The Tennessee Volunteers Will Avenge Last Season’s Loss to In-State Rival Vanderbilt

Tennessee was on the receiving end of a 45-24 beatdown from in-state rival Vanderbilt last season. Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia ripped the Vols’ defense apart for 268 passing yards and another 165 yards on the ground. In all actuality, that game was a microcosm of the season as a whole, with the offense doing its part but the defense letting the team down.

This season, the Vols will close out the regular season by avenging last season’s loss to the Commodores.

Vanderbilt is breaking in a new quarterback in Jared Curtis and lost another key offensive weapon in tight end Eli Stowers. Never say never, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that the new-look Vandy offense will hit the same heights as last season’s group.

Knowles will have the defense locked in. One of Brandon or MacIntyre will be the clear starter by then. The Vols will have revenge on their minds and will get one over on Vanderbilt in 2026.