It’s November, and that means better days are ahead for the Volunteers, starting with Middle Tennessee State.

The Vols hope to leave behind their October 1-4 record when they host the Blue Raiders Saturday at 7 p.m. on FSN.

Losing its last four games by a combined 109-28, Tennessee (3-5, 0-5 SEC) has work to do on offense if it hopes to turn things around against MTSU (2-5, 1-3 Sun Belt).

“Middle Tennessee has a real good staff,” UT coach Derek Dooley said. “I know some coaches over there that have been around a long time. They have had some bad breaks and probably could have won three more, but they certainly are more than capable of beating our tails, especially if we don’t figure out a way to score some points.”

Freshman Justin Worley is starting his second game at quarterback. Worley went 10-for-26 with 105 yards and two interceptions against South Carolina last week. Matt Simms replaced him in the fourth quarter.

Both of Worley’s interceptions were in South Carolina territory, including one on the 2-yard line.

“Certainly (he will be calmer). I feel that way about every freshman that goes out there,” offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. “The second game he’s calmer, the third game he’s more calm and you continue all that. You call that experience. You can’t manufacture it, you have to go out and play.”

Dooley agreed.

“The only way to really learn is through a lot of reps and a lot game reps,” Dooley said. “Then, you find that place where you understand who he is. We’re still in the learning stages. The challenge is that you want to do enough to where you have a lot of good game plan material to give your players a chance to win, but you can’t do too much to where the quarterback is not thinking fast, reacting and performing the way he’s capable of. That’s a constant battle we struggle with as coaches. It just takes time working with the quarterbacks, evaluating them and each week trying to do a little better job with that.”

Wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers admitted he needed to play better to help Worley along. Rogers dropped what would have likely been a touchdown against South Carolina, but he said the Vols just have to move on.

“When you play in the SEC, October is going to be rough and that’s at every school,” Rogers said. “You know that coming in, and you see it on the schedule way back in January. Really, you just have to keep your focus one game at a time, and that’s what we are doing right now.”

Strong safety Brent Brewer is out for the season after tearing his ACL against the Gamecocks. Freshman Brian Randolph will start in his place, while Prentiss Waggner will be pulled from cornerback to play free safety.

With Waggner at his natural cornerback position for the first time this season, he got his first interception of the season and nearly returned it for a touchdown. He had a UT-record three pick-sixes last year.

Tennessee’s defense forced three turnovers against South Carolina, but only has nine total this season.

“We have to do a great job of tackling,” defensive backs coach Terry Joseph said. “We have to do a great job of figuring out their formations and they motion a lot. They want to try to get you confused by their formations and motions so we have to do a great job of having discipline and getting guys on the ground when they do complete the ball.”

The Sun Belt vs. SEC matchup will be UT’s homecoming, and if history repeats itself, the Vols will be pleased with the outcome. They are 67-17-3 all-time in homecoming games. Not to mention, the Vols are 6-1 all-time against Sun Belt teams and won their last matchup with Western Kentucky in the 2009 season opener, 69-3.