Texas quarterback Arch Manning grabbed headlines with his zombie AI theme video hyping up the Tennessee football showdown. Manning enters Neyland Stadium with a chance to boost his NFL Draft stock. But the Volunteers' Faizon Brandon can snatch the spotlight from the Longhorns star too.
Plus boost his own pre-draft resume in the process.
Brandon has taken over for 2025 star quarterback Joey Aguilar. So far the dual-threat Brandon hasn't thrown a single interception. But has racked up 552 passing yards with six touchdowns through the air, then 137 yards rushing with three more scores.
NFL scouts who fly into Knoxville surely will become fixated on Manning, who happens to have Volunteer family ties via grandfather Arch and uncle Peyton. But here's how Brandon can gain some early NFL Draft momentum with Manning on the other sideline.
Exposing the Texas linebackers
Texas has wrecked its most havoc through the defensive line. Plus look solidified on the backend.
But both are masking this flaw: The Longhorns' thin linebacker room. And that's the area Brandon can expose the most on Saturday.
Coach Josh Heupel obviously comes into play here too for the freshman quarterback. This will mean Heupel can design some short-to-intermediate attacks to go straight after this linebacker core.
Despite Ohio State falling to this same Texas team, Heupel likely will find nuggets from the Buckeyes. Especially in seeing how OSU quarterback Julian Sayin attacked the Longhorns with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who delivered more total yards at halftime compared to the Longhorns' offense.
But Heupel will aim to out-scheme Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. Which involves going after the weakness of the defense. But that's not the only way for Brandon to boost his future draft stock.
Keeping composed when the game is tightened
Article Continues BelowSEC heavyweight showdowns come down to the wire. The conference and nation saw it last week between LSU and Ole Miss. Top 25 showdowns within the conference look bound to become tightened.
That said, Brandon must keep his composure to show the Vols that he's the right guy to lead this team.
Texas still will throw the kitchen sink at him still. Especially with aiming to free up the edge rushers and apply pressure. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp knows big SEC games well from his time at Florida and South Carolina as past head coach of both. He's bound to dial up the pressure and come after the freshman quarterback.
Saturday rises as a strong mental test for Brandon in his young college career.
Efficiency Becomes scrutinized
Texas is going to try and force Brandon into uncomfortable throws. Or even discomforting situations when the pressure is on, a la third and fourth downs.
Brandon's third and fourth down efficiency for this game becomes the last thing scrutinized by fans and scouts here. Texas likely has seen how Brandon has delivered mixed downfield results in going deep. The Longhorns will aim to force that hand.
Pressure management becomes crucial for Brandon. He walks into his biggest game yet with the No. 1 ranked team on the other side. Heupel must find a way to get Brandon comfortable early, then keep that comfort when Texas tests him.
The 6-foot-4 Brandon earned a future first round projection by 247Sports out of high school. He also became a five-star just like Manning. So now he can show the nation he was worth the hype. Plus become the new toast of Rocky Top just like Manning's famed relatives.