Mmastodon SportSports first seen 16 h ago, last 16 h ago, peak #5

Tennessee benches five-star freshman QB but still beats Auburn

Original: Tennessee benches five-star freshman QB as offense sputters, grinds past Auburn anyway https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/

Tennessee pulled its five-star freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon after the offense sputtered against Auburn, then ground out a win anyway. The 2026 college football matchup ended with the Volunteers securing a victory despite the struggles at quarterback, sparking debate among fans over whether the benching marks a temporary shake-up or a longer change in the rotation.

Why now: A high-profile five-star freshman being benched mid-game in a ranked SEC matchup is major college football news.

Tennessee VolunteersAuburn TigersFaizon Brandon

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• Tennessee benches five-star freshman QB as offense sputters, grinds past Auburn anyway https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7656766/2026/10/03/tennessee-auburn-cfb-score-recap-faizon-brandon/ # Sports # Football # CFB · nyt_sports@robot.villas · 2

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