Vols: Jarrett Guarantano promises 'magical' finish to Tennessee's regular season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A game against Alabama left Jarrett Guarantano battered and probably heavily bruised, but it didn't kill the Tennessee quarterback's spirit.

The Vols, who lost 45-7 to the No. 1 Crimson Tide on Saturday, have dropped three straight. They haven't scored an offensive touchdown in their past 14 quarters.

More:Vols' offensive touchdown drought grows, players 'itching to get in the end zone'

But Guarantano, the freshman who made his second career start on Saturday, has hope for a strong finish.

The Vols (3-4, 0-4 SEC) will play Kentucky (5-2, 2-2) on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network) in Lexington.

"We have 35 days left (in the regular season), and for those 35 days, we're going to give our all for Tennessee, 100 percent," Guarantano said. "They're going to be a magical 35 days for this program."

The Vols will need to win three of their final five games to make a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season.

Only one of the Vols' remaining opponents is ranked – No. 23 LSU – but there also aren't any sure victories on the schedule, which includes games against Southern Mississippi, Missouri and Vanderbilt.

“The guys want to win so bad," defensive tackle Kendal Vickers said. "We don’t got quitters in this locker room.”

The Vols are navigating a season that includes their coach resting firmly on the hot seat. One more loss may be the tipping point for Butch Jones' tenure. Jones' SEC record in five seasons at UT dropped to 14-22 after the loss to Alabama.

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Jones has never lost to Kentucky.

"The rumors with Butch, he’s staying," wide receiver Marquez Callaway said after the Alabama game. "He’s doing what he can. We’re doing what we can."

Vickers said the start of this season feels similar to 2015, when the Vols started 3-4 before rattling off six straight wins. But that season, each of the Vols' losses came by seven points or fewer.

UT's losses to Florida and South Carolina this season were decided on the game's final play. But the Vols' losses to the SEC's elite, Georgia and Alabama, came by a combined score of 86-7.

Tennessee was outgained 604-108 by Alabama. Making matters worse, starting offensive lineman Jashon Robertson exited in the second half with an injury. The Vols have had fewer than 260 yards of offense in each of their last three games.

The offense looks as anemic as ever. The defense has kept the team in the game early but eventually breaks down.

“We’re going to come out of this OK," Vickers said. "I believe in the guys in the locker room. I believe in the coaches."