Diego Pavia has already declared for the NFL Draft after his successful two seasons with Vanderbilt. He is currently participating in the 2026 Senior Bowl, which will give him an opportunity to show his talents in front of a wide range of NFL personnel.
Diego Pavia Shares His Candid Confession on Alabama-Vanderbilt Comparison
In the 2024 season, Pavia led Vanderbilt to a historic win over then-No. 1 Alabama, marking the Commodores’ first victory over a No. 1 team. Pavia and his No. 16 Vanderbilt team travelled to Tuscaloosa in the 2025 season to take on No. 10 Alabama on Oct. 4, with an undefeated record at 5-0.
While Vanderbilt fans hoped for another upset, Pavia’s squad ultimately had to accept a 16-point loss. Pavia struggled with two crucial red-zone turnovers, which he took the blame for after the game.
A reporter asked Pavia whether Vanderbilt is now more talented than Alabama, and he gave a blunt answer.
“I really believe that we were that talented, top to bottom,” Pavia said. “Like our offense, you know, we had two. We had one Junior Sherrell who went for 784 yards. We had Trey, who went for 806. We had Eli Stowers, who went for 750. Our backs were really talented, catching the ball out of the backfield, running the football. Like it’s just our old line-like, I don’t know, it’s crazy to me to think that we’re 10-2 in the SEC.
“And we only have one, really one guy who’s like a for-sure draft pick. So I think that’s something to just put out there. I don’t know, I want to see if it might be the first time or something, but yeah, it’s just crazy to think like, shoot, maybe we just got that much dog in us, you know.”
Alabama, which spent $15.5 million in the transfer portal, outgained Vanderbilt 486-333 as well as 226-119 in the second half of the game. The Commodores scored two touchdowns in the first half but were shut out after halftime by the Crimson Tide and ultimately fell 30-14 in a game that was once 14-14.
Pavia was 21-for-35 with 198 passing yards and one touchdown and one interception, rushing 11 times for 47 yards. He fumbled during the first quarter at Alabama’s 8-yard line and was intercepted at Alabama’s 7-yard line during the fourth quarter.
“We’re the best team in the country, we just didn’t show tonight,” Pavia said following the game. We didn’t play Vanderbilt football. That’s what it comes down to. We’re pressure fighters. We didn’t show it tonight. But we just gotta get back up and to the drawing board.”
Pavia ultimately ended the 2025 season, throwing for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while adding 862 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He is the No. 1 quarterback in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric, holding a 94.8 score.
