KNOXVILLE — Now that the Alabama game is in the rear view mirror, Tennessee needs to come together and figure out a way to become bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive year.

Whether that’s with Butch Jones or without remains to be seen, but to go bowling, the Vols (3-4) will need to win three games without surrendering more than two losses.

Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano said after the Vols’ program suffered their 11th consecutive loss to Alabama that “if this doesn’t bring us together in the locker room, then I don’t know what will.”

After replacing Quinten Dormady five games into the season, Guarantano is now settling in as the signal caller.

In his second start, Guarantano went 9-for-16, for 44 yards and threw one interception, but it is now visible and apparent that the redshirt freshman quarterback has command and respect of his teammates, which will set the tone going forward.

After the loss to Alabama, Guarantano let it be known that the remaining 35 days left of the season that he and his teammates are “going to give our all for Tennessee, 100 percent.”

“They’re going to be a magical 35 days in this program,” he said. “I just know we’re going to definitely work harder from it. We’re very inspired to.”

Tennessee’s offense failed to score a touchdown for the third consecutive SEC game. Its lone TD Saturday came on a pick-six.

The offense generated just 108 total yards and seven first downs. It again stalled in the red zone, creeping inside Alabama’s 1 yard line before a penalty and interception ended their best scoring chance.

If those numbers are to turn around, the Vols must find a way to get John Kelly more touches and get Marquez Callaway and Ethan Wolf more involved in the passing game.

Tennessee’s bowl hopes depend on it.

The Vols need to self-evaluate in getting their playmakers more involved as Guarantano becomes settled in more and seeks to be more in sync with his targets after only his second start.

One situational area of the offense that needs to be evaluated is the red zone. On the season Tennessee is 14-for-19 in red zone opportunities, scoring 10 touchdowns and converting four field goals.

The statistics look productive, but the Vols have not produced enough for winning results. In conference play, the Vols are 4-for-8 inside the red zone, but all four scores are field goals. They’ve yet to score a touchdown on a play that started inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

The Vols have been outscored 127-36 in those four SEC games.

First-year athletics director John Currie took in the final moments on the sidelines at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.

Currie’s body language was one of that if Tennessee cannot start playing better soon, changes could be on the horizon.