- - Diego Pavia eligibility: Can Vanderbilt football QB return in 2026?

Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAYDecember 31, 2025 at 11:58 AM

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Diego Pavia eligibility: Can Vanderbilt football QB return in 2026?

Diego Pavia has gone from anonymous to a household name over the past two college football seasons.

The Vanderbilt quarterback joined the Commodores ahead of the 2024 season following stops at New Mexico Military Institute (2020-21) and New Mexico State (2022-23) and has not missed a step playing in the Southeastern Conference.

REQUIRED READING: How Diego Pavia transformed Vanderbilt football, challenged NCAA

In 2025, Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 10-2 record behind a monster season that included passing for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns, while adding 826 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

All of that led to Pavia finishing as runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting behind Indiana's Fernando Mendoza.

The ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31, against Iowa could be the finale for a strong six-year collegiate career for Pavia.

Or Pavia could potentially return to Vanderbilt in 2026 for one final run at a national championship. Here's what you about Pavia's eligibility:

Diego Pavia eligibility 2026

Pavia's eligibility for the 2026 season is still in question, despite him having played six college seasons already.

In December 2024, Pavia received an extra year of eligibility after winning a preliminary injunction from a U.S. District court judge in a lawsuit filed against the NCAA.

While a lawsuit involving Pavia as one of 27 players has been in motion for additional eligibility, the lawsuit received a boost this month, as the lawyers cite the NCAA's recent decision to allow former NBA draft pick and European professional basketball player James Nnaji to join Baylor's basketball team.

The lawsuit targets the NCAA rule that counts players’ years at junior college against their NCAA eligibility clock, with Pavia having played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to New Mexico State ahead of the 2022 season.

Diego Pavia age

Pavia was born on Feb. 16, 2002, making him 23 for the 2025 college football season. Pavia will be 24 years old for the 2026 NFL Draft or the 2026 college football season.

Diego Pavia stats

Here are Pavia's stats at the Division I level, with stops at New Mexico State and Vanderbilt:

2022 (New Mexico State): 101-of-190 passing (53.2%) for 1,450 yards with 13 touchdowns to six interceptions; 93 rushes for 508 yards with six touchdowns

2023 (New Mexico State): 221-of-366 passing (60.4%) for 2,973 yards with 26 touchdowns to nine interceptions; 177 rushes for 923 yards with seven touchdowns

2024 (Vanderbilt): 177-of-298 passing (59.4%) for 2,293 yards with 20 touchdowns to four interceptions; 193 rushes for 801 yards with eight touchdowns

2025 (Vanderbilt): 242-of-340 passing (71.2%) for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns to eight interceptions; 152 rushes for 826 yards with nine touchdowns

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia have eligibility for 2026 season?

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