When Nick Saban announced his retirement as Alabama’s head coach last week, it seemingly solidified the Tennessee Vols’ chances of landing 2025 five-star quarterback George MacIntyre.

The Vols have long been viewed as the favorites for MacIntyre, but with Saban in the picture, Alabama couldn’t be counted out. Now that Saban is no longer in Tuscaloosa, it seems even more likely that MacIntyre will land with Tennessee.

(Note: New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer re-offered MacIntyre on Monday.)

So with MacIntyre’s decision looking easier, what’s the holdup on announcing his commitment (which is expected this month)?

According to VolQuest’s Austin Price, the winter weather in Nashville this week has played a factor.

Price appeared on 104.5 The Zone’s “Ramon, Kayla, and Will” on Tuesday morning and he gave the latest details on MacIntyre’s recruitment.

“I think the six to eight inches of snow that Middle Tennessee got delayed the decision,” said Price. “You know, at some point you have to be in school and so we’ll see. George, I know he hasn’t announced it yet, but I think he was hoping to come to some decision late in the week. And when he does that, much like most kids, he wants to do in front of the student body. And so if Brentwood Academy is not in school, you’re looking at getting that pushed back to next week. I’ve said for months I feel like Tennessee is the team to beat. They’ve done the best job for the longest and I still feel that way.”

MacIntyre is rated as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class. Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee have been viewed for months as the top three schools for MacIntyre. LSU, however, recently received a commitment from 2025 five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, which essentially took them out of the running in this battle. With Saban heading for retirement, it seems all but certain that Tennessee will get some good news from MacIntyre once the snow melts.