A not-so-quiet confidence was expressed by Diego Pavia about Vanderbilt.
Diego Pavia Makes Bold Claim For Vanderbilt Football Ahead of 2025 Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Something feels different in Nashville. There’s confidence in the air, a tone that hasn’t always accompanied Vanderbilt football this time of year. And it’s not just coachspeak or offseason optimism. It’s coming directly from the Commodores’ starting quarterback, and he’s not being quiet about it.
Diego Pavia, the senior signal-caller who shocked the SEC last fall, is setting expectations high. The former New Mexico State transfer already delivered one of the biggest upsets in recent program history by taking down Alabama last season.
Now, as the 2025 season inches closer, he’s thinking even bigger. During a recent interview on ESPN’s "The Paul Finebaum Show," Pavia made a declaration that turned heads across college football.
Diego Pavia Tells Finebaum Vanderbilt Can Win It All
Pavia calmly told Finebaum, “I think we've got the tools offensively and defensively to go win the national championship.” Finebaum paused to make sure he heard him right, even clarifying, “You’re deadly serious, right?” Pavia didn’t blink. “Yeah, I wasn’t cracking a joke. That’s the standard.”
The 24-year-old has become one of the SEC’s most intriguing quarterbacks, and he’s not short on confidence.
He said what HE SAID... https://t.co/VT41B45cwQpic.twitter.com/HT3FoIt8PO
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) August 7, 2025
When asked who the best quarterback in the country is, Pavia pointed to himself.
He added if he was asked about the best receivers, linemen or DBs, he would point out his teammates. He credited NIL for leveling the playing field and emphasized how Vanderbilt can now compete with anyone, especially with the roster they’re returning in 2025.
Pavia’s Breakout Season And Alabama Upset Shifted Expectations
The belief isn’t empty. In 2024, Pavia threw for 2,293 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, finishing with a 74.6 QBR. He added over 800 rushing yards and accounted for 30 total touchdowns. But his most important performance came in a 40–35 home upset over top-ranked Alabama, where he completed 80 percent of his passes and led the game-winning drive.
That win snapped a 40-year drought against top-five opponents and helped Vanderbilt reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. The performance also cemented Pavia as one of the SEC’s most dynamic quarterbacks and earned him a sixth year of eligibility after a successful federal appeal this offseason.
Now, with a full offseason under his belt and a returning core of 13 players that includes five offensive stars, like 2024 leading wide receiver Junior Sherrill. Pavia isn’t treating last season as a fluke. He’s using it as the baseline.
Vanderbilt kicks off its 2025 season at home against Charleston Southern and travels to Blacksburg for a non-conference matchup against Virginia Tech the following week. A strong start is a must to maintain the aspirational conversations around the program.
Related: Most Annoying Fan Base in the SEC Named Ahead of 2025 Season
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
