Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has not backed down from his predictions after leading the Commodores to their historic upset of No. 1 Alabama last season. In a recent episode of the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast, the confident signal-caller stood by his team’s aspirations for a championship, saying that Vandy has the “firepower” to compete for a national title.
After the upset, the 6-foot, 207-pound graduate student from Albuquerque has taken Vanderbilt football to a different level through his fearless mentality and championship mindset.
Diego Pavia’s Championship Vision: ‘We Got the Firepower’
Pavia’s confidence in Vanderbilt’s championship potential is unwavering. When asked about national championship expectations, he stated emphatically:
“For sure. I do not doubt that we’ve got the guys to do it. We got the firepower. We got the depth, got the defense, the offense. Like we would be selling ourselves short if I was to sit here and tell you like we don’t have the faith to go win the national championship.”
The quarterback’s bold predictions aren’t just talk; impressive statistics from the 2024 season back them. Pavia threw for 2,293 yards with 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions, adding 801 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. His dual-threat ability helped Vanderbilt achieve a 7-6 record, including victories over top-ranked Alabama and Auburn.
Pavia clarified that anything less than a championship would be disappointing: “For sure. You win 10 games in the SEC, you’re in the tournament, and then it’s anyone’s game. And you like yourself. I like myself more than everyone.”
The upset of Alabama is the crown jewel of Vanderbilt’s shocking season. The Commodores defeated the Crimson Tide 40-35, the first win for Vandy over a top-five team in program history, and snapped a 40-year losing streak against Alabama.
Pavia revealed his mindset when reflecting on that game: “When we won, I would just think like when we pulled the ball and I got a 12-yard gain, and then like the game was over. But I always thought, like we could win,ain’t no like that’s just how I approached the game though.”
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His approach to facing elite competition remains unchanged: “It’s just like uh if you go in there with the losing mentality, you’re screwed already. And so for me, I don’t care if it’s Bama, Nebraska, Michigan.”
Pavia’s end goal isn’t just team glory but personal legacy. “I want people to know that I’m the, you know, the best person to ever touch like the blade of grass, like I’m I’m gonna be the best regardless,” he said.
