KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — How Tennessee fares in its so-called "second season" could determine whether Derek Dooley gets a fourth season as the Volunteers' coach.

After Tennessee fell 38-35 to South Carolina on Saturday for its fourth straight loss, Dooley said the Vols must view their last four games as a second season. Tennessee hosts Troy and Missouri the next two weeks, visits Vanderbilt on Nov. 17 and returns home Nov. 24 against Kentucky.

Tennessee (3-5) could be favored in each of those last four games. If the Vols win out, they would go 7-5 and clinch their first winning season in Dooley's three-year tenure.

The five teams to beat Tennessee are all ranked and own a combined record of 36-5. The four remaining teams on Tennessee's schedule are a combined 13-20.