Diego Pavia had a lot of fans in the stands watching him beat Alabama Football. Vanderbilt's quarterback said after helping the Commodores defeat the Crimson Tide 40-35 in Nashville that he had a big family from his home state at FirstBank Stadium.

“I think the total was 68,” Pavia said. “They all came from Albuquerque, New Mexico. And it costs a lot of money. Many people there are not rich. They come from the poor, from the South Valley… I'm just super grateful for them. I feel like they're in my corner tonight. They sit right behind us and are just motivators. Allow me to be myself. And I just feel at home. Literally at home, when I come out, I just play football in the backyard.”

Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense kept Alabama away on Saturday. Head coach Clark Lea said the Commodores wanted to keep UA's possessions low, and they did just that, controlling the ball for 42:08 of game time.

The quarterback, who transferred from New Mexico State this offseason, said he took inspiration from another player who once upset Alabama: Johnny Manziel.

“Johnny Football said in his video he wasn’t something to play with,” Pavia said. “I feel the same way about myself. Every time I step on the field I feel like I'm the best player on the field. Every time I just have to keep showing up. It’s God’s timing.”

Linebacker Miles Capers made one of the game-winning plays on Sunday. He sacked Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the fourth quarter, forcing a fumble.

The Commodores rallied, costing Alabama one of its few precious drives. After the game, Capers said he and his teammates were confident going into the game.

“We knew this was going to happen,” Capers said. “We just took a step forward and fought back.”

Vanderbilt did what most teams can't do on Saturday. Milroe, one of the league's best rushing threats, managed just 10 yards on the ground.

Capers then attributed this to preparation.

“It’s really part of practice,” the linebacker said. “Since we know we have to lock him up to make him feel uncomfortable. We know his danger, his legs, and we just had to do our job to get the job done.”

Vanderbilt travels to Kentucky on Saturday after winning at Alabama. The Crimson Tide next face South Carolina in Tuscaloosa.