Diego Pavia wasn’t just fighting for another season; he was going toe-to-toe with the NCAA. After two years at New Mexico Military Institute and then New Mexico State, he challenged the rules counting JUCO participation against eligibility, arguing it violated antitrust laws. The quarterback believed his NCAA clock shouldn’t have started during his junior college days, especially with the COVID waiver in play. This wasn’t just about X’s and O’s; a Pavia victory could mean a shot at a cool million in NIL deals for 2025.

And guess what? Pavia just scored a huge legal win. He’s officially cleared to play in 2025 thanks to a temporary injunction from a U.S. District Court. After a federal judge denied his initial request last month, Judge William Campbell flipped the script. Now, Pavia gets his extra year—a chance to rewrite his college football story.

So, how does Diego Pavia feel about getting that extra year? Fired up. On a recent episode of AIR IT OUT with Pavia, he didn’t hold back. “The ruling, shout Ryan Downton, freaking held me out crazy! And I just feel like we got more to prove, you know? Unfinished business.” One more season. One more shot to leave his mark. And from the sound of it, Pavia is ready to make every snap count.

Pavia led New Mexico Military Institute to a national championship in 2021 before heading to New Mexico State, where he won 10 games in 2023. The Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year then followed his head coach, Jerry Kill, and offensive coordinator Tim Beck to Vanderbilt this offseason. With tight end Eli Stowers and other key players returning after a 7-6 season, expectations are sky-high.

Last season, Pavia proved he’s a dual-threat nightmare for defenses. He threw for 2,133 yards, ran for another 716, and racked up 23 total touchdowns. But his true moment of glory? Leading Vanderbilt to a stunning upset over then-No. 1 Alabama on October 5. That win didn’t just shake up the rankings—it put Pavia’s name on the map. Now, with another year ahead, the question is: what magic does he have left in store?

And while the legal battle has been intense, a hilarious childhood story about Diego Pavia’s football journey recently resurfaced. On The Roy Rundown podcast, he shared a little white lie that kick-started his career. “I’ve been playing football since I was six years old. My mom lied on my birth certificate when I was six so I could play because the minimum age was seven. She lied about that and helped me out,” Pavia confessed. The timing of this story—dropped in the midst of a legal fight over eligibility—raised a few eyebrows.

Diego Pavia is celebrating!

Now Pavia’s legal drama is finally over, complete with some honest confessions and maybe a few white lies along the way. He’s officially locked in for the 2025 season. But how did he celebrate this hard-won victory?

After his legal victory, Diego Pavia didn’t hold back. He let the world know exactly how he felt, taking to social media with pure energy. “VANDY WE (expletive) TURNT,” he wrote, sealing it with a 🔥💯 emoji. The message was loud and clear—Pavia is back, and he’s ready to make some noise in 2025.

Judge Campbell wasn’t just looking at the legal side—he wanted to know how fast things could move, especially with the transfer portal closing on Dec. 28. In his ruling, he highlighted just how much Pavia has meant to Vanderbilt. “With Pavia as quarterback, Vanderbilt has seen historic success—Vanderbilt beat both the University of Alabama and Auburn University—and the team will be playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2018.” A statement that says it all—Pavia’s impact is undeniable.

Moreover, Campbell didn’t hold back in his critique of the NCAA’s stance on eligibility rules. He pointed out the inconsistencies, making it clear that their argument didn’t add up. “Given the different treatment of other student-athletes with comparable or more post-secondary experience, the NCAA’s assertion that the eligibility rules are necessary to prevent age and experience disparities and preserve the quality of experience for student-athletes falls flat,” Campbell wrote. A strong statement that puts the NCAA on notice.

Now, it’s Diego Pavia’s moment to shine. With the legal battle behind him, all eyes are on the field. The stage is set, the spotlight is his—it’s time for Pavia to unleash his true potential.