Diego Pavia isn't testing the boundaries of NCAA eligibility. After pushing the NCAA last winter to secure his sixth year, apparently the Vanderbilt quarterback was seeking clearance for 2026. At least that's what was reported by On3's Pete Nakos.
However, Pavia himself debunked the rumors and confirmed this would be his final year at Vanderbilt via a social media post.
🧢… this my last year 🤝 https://t.co/B282oKEi5t
— Diego Pavia (@diegopavia02) September 16, 2025
Pavia’s case gained traction in December 2024, when a federal judge granted him a preliminary injunction. That ruling allowed him to play a sixth season and prompted the NCAA to issue a blanket waiver covering athletes who had previously competed at junior colleges. Under the waiver, players in similar circumstances to Pavia were granted an additional year of eligibility through this year.
The stakes were not only legal but financial. Pavia acknowledged in June that he was offered as much as $4.5 million to transfer, while sources indicate his current NIL earnings exceed $2 million. His case has already inspired more than 30 athletes to file similar lawsuits, adding to the terms of the modern college sports economy.
Pavia was a former New Mexico State standout and the 2023 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year before transferring to Vanderbilt. He led the Commodores to a stunning upset of top-ranked Alabama last fall and has them off to a 3-0 start in 2025.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- Nick Saban on Browns' Derrick Henry diss: Try 'tackling his ass every day'
- LSU lands top 2027 blue-chip QB Peyton Houston
- The hard truth about Arch Manning's injury situation
- Why Shedeur Sanders told NFL teams not to draft him