Grading QB George MacIntyre's first start in Tennessee win over Arkansas
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FAYETTEVILLE, AR — Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre got a victory over Arkansas in his first career start, but it was a rollercoaster ride to get there.
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The 14th-ranked Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC) pulled off a 24-17 win over the Razorbacks (2-4, 0-3) on Oct. 10. MacIntyre passed for 247 yards and a touchdown, committed three turnovers and did enough to stave off an upset.
MacIntyre replaced five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, who started the first five games and did not play due to a right shoulder injury. Coach Josh Heupel said MacIntyre found out on Oct. 5 that he would start against Arkansas, and Brandon was limited in practice.
MacIntyre, a sophomore and former Brentwood Academy standout, became the sixth UT starting quarterback of Heupel’s six-year tenure. He followed Joe Milton (16 starts, 2021-23), Hendon Hooker (22 starts, 2021-22), Nico Iamaleava (14 starts, 2023-24), Joey Aguilar (13 starts, 2025) and Brandon (five starts, 2026).
Tennessee plays No. 7 Alabama on Oct. 17 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN or SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium. Here’s a quick rundown of MacIntyre's performance against Arkansas.
George MacIntyre stats
MacIntyre was 18-of-29 passing for 247 yards, one TD and two interceptions against Arkansas. He was sacked once and lost a fumble.
This was MacIntyre’s fifth appearance of the season, but his first start. Against Furman, he completed 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards, one TD and no interceptions. Against No. 1 Texas, he completed 1 of 3 passes for 6 yards. He didn’t attempt a pass against Kennesaw State. Against Auburn, he completed 8 of 10 passes for 86 yards.
George MacIntyre’s best: TD pass, big play to DaSaahn Brame
MacIntyre completed 5 of 6 passes on Tennessee’s first scoring drive, including a 5-yard TD toss to tight end Trent Thomas.
It was far from an explosive series of passes, but it was important in MacIntyre’s gaining confidence and finding a rhythm. A 12-yard swing pass to Daune Morris got the Vols past midfield, and a 22-yarder to Braylon Staley moved them inside the 10.
In the third quarter, MacIntyre completed a 22-yard pass to Staley to set up a game-tying field goal.
And in the fourth quarter, MacIntyre hit tight end DaSaahn Brame on a well-timed vertical pass that went for 68 yards and set up a touchdown.
George MacIntyre’s worst: Three turnovers
MacIntyre was hit while throwing his second interception. But his two other turnovers were his fault.
MacIntyre’s first miscue nearly squandered a 7-0 lead just before halftime. On third-and-2 from the Arkansas 19-yard line, MacIntyre lost the handle on a pass and fumbled it.
Arkansas defensive end Quincy Rhodes scooped the ball and took off toward the end zone. MacIntyre and wide receiver Radarious Jackson chased him. MacIntyre slowed him down by grabbing his foot, and Jackson made the touchdown-saving tackle with 3 seconds remaining.
Max Gilbert, who transferred from Tennessee to Arkansas in January, missed a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. That was a break for the Vols, but the turnover also kept UT from scoring points.
In the third quarter, MacIntyre telegraphed a deep pass along the sideline to Staley. Arkansas safety Miguel Mitchell easily drifted over the route to pick off the pass. Arkansas converted the turnover into a touchdown for a 14-7 lead.
Grade: C-
The offense struggled from top to bottom. It wasn’t just MacIntyre’s mistakes. But it’s hard to overlook his three turnovers. One led to an Arkansas touchdown. Another should’ve led to points. And the last could’ve ended the game. They were costly. But they could've been costlier.
MacIntyre’s performances featured ups and downs. Give him credit for keeping his composure in what looked like it was headed for a crushing defense. And don't overlook his 247 yards passing, a total higher than Brandon's five starts this season.
The win glossed over MacIntyre's worst. But UT only needed him to lead the Vols to a victory. That makes his three straight kneel downs to end the game pretty notable.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Grading QB George MacIntyre's first start in Tennessee win over Arkansas