Diego Pavia stats today: Vandy QB posts eye-popping numbers, beats Auburn for third time in career

Staff Writer
Diego Pavia stats today: Vandy QB posts eye-popping numbers, beats Auburn for third time in career image

In a massive shootout that kept their College Football Playoff hopes flickering, No. 16 Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia delivered a spectacular, stat-stuffing performance to lead the Commodores to a heart-stopping 45-38 overtime victory over Auburn.

Pavia was the engine of the Vandy attack, rallying his team from a 10-point deficit and sealing the win with a dramatic 4-yard jump-pass touchdown in the extra period. The former New Mexico State transfer lit up the scoreboard, finishing with 377 passing yards, three touchdown throws, and 112 rushing yards with another score on the ground.

Though Vanderbilt remains on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff, the win keeps its postseason hopes alive. All of Commodore Nation can thank their star quarterback.

MORE: Why Vanderbilt went for 4th down in tie game vs. Auburn despite being in FG range

Diego Pavia stats today

  • Completions: 25
  • Attempts: 33
  • Passing Yards: 377
  • Passing Touchdowns: 3
  • Rushing Yards: 112
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 1

Pavia had a spectacular outing, particularly in the passing game, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns. The performance came against an Auburn defense that ranked among the nation’s best in scoring heading into the matchup. His passing total far exceeded his season average, showcasing his ability to carry the offense in a true shootout. His connection with tight end Eli Stowers stood out, as Stowers hauled in 12 catches for 122 yards.

Beyond his arm, Pavia was a major threat on the ground, adding 112 rushing yards and a crucial touchdown. His dual-threat ability kept the Auburn defense off balance throughout the game, fueling the high-scoring affair. When the contest went to overtime, Pavia cemented his heroic status with a decisive 4-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spence on the Commodores’ opening possession of the extra period.

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Diego Pavia record against Auburn

Pavia is now 3-0 against Auburn in his career, beating the Tigers at two different schools.

The quarterbacks dominance over Auburn began not in the SEC, but as the quarterback for the New Mexico State Aggies. In a stunning 2023 upset, Pavia led the Aggies into Jordan-Hare Stadium and orchestrated a dominant 31-10 victory over the Tigers, which was New Mexico State’s first-ever win against an SEC program. In that game, Pavia was surgical, throwing for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 35 crucial yards on the ground.

The following season, after transferring to Vanderbilt, Pavia continued his mastery by leading the Commodores to a hard-fought 17-7 win at Auburn -- marking Vandy’s first-ever victory over the Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. His most recent triumph, a 45-38 overtime thriller in Nashville, completed the perfect hat trick, with Pavia’s four total touchdowns serving as the headline.

MORE: More on Diego Pavia and his background

Diego Pavia stats vs. Auburn

Pavia has now beaten the Tigers in three consecutive seasons.

DateTeamResultComp-AttPass YdsPass TDsRush YdsRush TDs
Nov 18, 2023New Mexico St.W 31-1019-282013350
Nov 2, 2024VanderbiltW 17-79-221432260
Nov 8, 2025VanderbiltW 45-38 (OT)25-3337731121
TOTALS3 Games3-053-8372181731

How tall is Diego Pavia?

Diego Pavia is listed by Vanderbilt University Athletics and other sources as 6 feet tall.

Pavia’s recruiting trajectory was heavily — and negatively — impacted by his size, which he has acknowledged was the main reason he was overlooked by nearly every Division I program. Despite an impressive high school career in New Mexico, where he led his team to an 11-0 record and also won a state wrestling title, the quarterback — listed at 6-foot -- received no scholarship offers from any FBS or FCS school.

That lack of opportunity forced Pavia to take an unconventional path, starting his collegiate career as a walk-on at the New Mexico Military Institute (JUCO). He led NMMI to a national championship, showing the clutch playmaking and dual-threat ability major programs had initially ignored. His success at the JUCO level finally earned him a Division I offer from New Mexico State — setting up the remarkable journey that ultimately led him to the SEC at Vanderbilt, where he is now silencing early doubters and thriving as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks.

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