Nashville, TENN--Clark Lea's team called its shot.

Despite Alabama's 23-game win streak against it, the Crimson Tide outscoring Vanderbilt 148-3 in their last three matchups and a 55-0 loss in the lone matchup of head coach Clark Lea's tenure. Vanderbilt felt as if Saturday would be different, though.

Vanderbilt safety CJ Taylor knew this opportunity would be different.

"We’re looking forward to beating Alabama," Taylor said on Thursday. "Everybody that’s in the facility, we have our heads high. We’re ready to go."

Taylor knew that claim would come with external doubt. He didn't care, though.

"Every day we come in here we’re looking to answer questions," Taylor said. "I think in the next 48 hours we’re gonna answer a lot.

"We’re very excited. I think people are forgetting to remember this is the same team that played USF a few weeks ago, so we’re confident."

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia echoed that confidence, but didn't make any declarations.

"We got a team full of dawgs who prepare every week like they want to play on Sundays and so with that, the only person that knows who's going to win on Saturday is God," Pavia said. "The whole team is fired up to go out there on Saturday."

Pavia knew the history involved with the matchup. He knew how Vanderbilt has been written off as a result of it.

He's disregarded that, though.

"This is a whole new team," Pavia said. "In the NIL era, every team will be different every single year."

Taylor has been around for Vanderbilt's worst losses under Lea. He's seen what its locker room is like after embarrassing outings against ETSU and UNLV. He felt the mountaintop within reach, though.

“I think a lot of people are gonna be surprised," Taylor said on Thursday. "I know we aren’t, but I think a lot of people are gonna be surprised by the outcome of the game.”