Paul Finebaum Calls Out Historic College Football Program

Jul 16, 2025 11:48 AM EDT

Josh Heupel appeared at SEC Media Days on Tuesday and reiterated that the Tennessee Volunteers’ quarterback competition remains very much alive. “We will have a competition at the quarterback position,” Heupel said, referring to Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre.

He praised all three for their summer work, noting how each has developed relationships and rapport both in the meeting room and on the field. With fall camp less than a month away, Heupel clarified that none of the contenders has separated himself as the clear starter.

However, the room doesn’t have the confidence of Paul Finebaum. On Wednesday, On3 reported that the SEC Network analyst laughed off Tennessee’s hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff this season.

“I love fiction, and that is absolutely fiction,” Finebaum responded when asked if the Vols could make a back‑to‑back CFP appearance.

ESPN announcer Paul Finebaum before the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. — Source: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images

“Tennessee is not making it back to the Playoff. They lost Nico [Iamaleava]. They have Joey Aguilar, who went to App State, transferred to UCLA and then to Tennessee, all in what seemed like about a half an hour. Tennessee will be good, but they’re not good enough to make the Playoff.”

Finebaum’s skepticism stems from Tennessee’s early‑season slate. The Vols open on Aug. 30 against Syracuse in Atlanta, then host Georgia on Sept. 13 before a critical road trip to face Alabama later.

Despite Finebaum’s harsh take, the Vols’ quarterback room features intriguing storylines. Aguilar arrives with two seasons of Appalachian State experience. Merklinger returns as the system veteran, entering his second year in Heupel’s scheme. And MacIntyre brings a high‑school pedigree.