Heupel talks inexperienced quarterbacks ahead of 2026

On October 17th, the Alabama Crimson Tide will once again make the trip up to Knoxville, Tennessee for another edition of 'The Third Saturday in October." This will mark the fourth consecutive year the matchup will feature a new starting quarterback in Volunteer orange. It will also be Alabama's first chance to win inside Neyland Stadium since 2024, when the Crimson Tide fell to the Vols, 24-17.

With SEC media days kicking off in Tampa, Florida, quarterback battles and questions surrounding them are officially in full swing. One of the more influential QB battles is taking place up on 'Ol Rocky Top, where true freshman Faizon Brandon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre are duking it out to earn the nod as QB1.

Get our free mobile app

Head coach Josh Heupel was correct in assuming questions surrounding the situation would come early and often, as two of his first five questions fielded involved the quarterback room. Heupel was asked about his confidence level in the two young signal-callers, given the nature of his high-powered complex offense.

"Yeah, we've played freshmen quarterback in my history, four or five of those guys started as freshmen or redshirt freshmen," Heupel said on Monday. At the end of the day, the players got to go earn it, and they got to compete for it every single day.

I do think it's really important that the guys around him function and play at a really high level to limit the negative opportunities, the adverse situations a quarterback can be put in. They got to learn how to take care of the football first and foremost.

"You have to play with a competitive edge, allow your play-makers to go make plays as well," he continued. "The beauty of the game with your quarterback is each one of 'em's a little bit different. They're the artist. You have to hand them the paintbrush and let them go paint it."

While the answer may seem like run-of-the-mill coach talk, Heupel alluded to the fact that he is no stranger to starting a freshman quarterback. He most recently did so in 2024, when Nico Iamaleava led the Vols to a 10-2 record as well as a birth in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman.

A new quarterback can be a struggle to prepare for, but by the time Alabama rolls into Knoxville in search of its first victory there since 2020, the Volunteers will have played six games, giving the Tide's coaching staff plenty of film to prepare for whoever gets the starting job on Rocky Top.

Our coverage of SEC Media Days 2026 live from Tampa, Florida, is brought to you by Taco Casa.