Head coach Kalen DeBoer ended the Associated Press No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide‘s quarterback competition on Saturday by naming Keelon Russell to the role over Austin Mack.
While that was the highest-profile remaining battle heading into the regular season, several more remain with Week 1 just two weeks away.
Below, we examine five prominent power conference QB competitions and predict the winners of each.
Quarterbacks: Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre | Both quarterbacks are inexperienced, with Brandon, a five-star 2026 high-school recruit, looking to earn the starting job as a true freshman. MacIntyre — a 2025 four-star prospect — only appeared in two home games (vs. FCS East Tennessee State and New Mexico State) last season, going 7-of-9 for 69 yards.
On Saturday, the Vols held their second scrimmage, and while Brandon appeared to remain in the lead, Heupel elected against naming a starter afterward, instead hinting that the decision could wait until Week 1.
Knox News Tennessee beat reporter Adam Sparks pointed to some of Brandon’s advantages in the competition, noting he’s “a better runner, both in scrambling situations on pass plays and designed quarterback runs.
“Brandon has also been a more consistent deep ball passer,” Sparks wrote. Heupel isn’t ready to declare a starter, but it’s clear where things are headed.
Prediction: BRANDON
Quarterbacks: Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski | Brown backed up Mark Gronowski in 2025 and hasn’t started since a disastrous 2024 SEC opener while at Auburn, when he threw three first-half interceptions and was benched at halftime of a loss to Arkansas. Hecklinski also transferred to Iowa last year, arriving from Wake Forest and enters 2026 with two career pass attempts.
Despite being an unknown, Hecklinski put his best foot forward at a recent scrimmage performance described by The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman as “perhaps the most impressive Kids’ Day passing performance in Kirk Ferentz’s 28 seasons as head coach.” The numbers justify the bold claim, with Hecklinski finishing 17-of-25 for 205 yards and five touchdowns. Brown, meanwhile, was 9-of-21 for 42 yards.
