Post Analytics

Diego Pavia might be the most unlikely star story in college football over the last few years, and what he did at Vanderbilt in 2024 deserves way more recognition than it got. The dual-threat quarterback out of New Mexico Military Institute transferred into a program that nobody expected much from, and completely flipped the script on what Vanderbilt football could look like. Pavia threw for over 2,400 yards, tossed 15 touchdowns against just 5 interceptions, and added serious damage on the ground with his legs, giving Vanderbilt a dimension at quarterback they simply haven’t had in years. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week multiple times throughout the season and proved week after week that he belonged in the toughest conference in college football. But the number that matters most? Seven wins. Vanderbilt went 7-5 in 2024, qualified for a bowl game, and along the way did something that hadn’t been done since 1984 — they beat Alabama. Pavia was the engine behind all of it, orchestrating one of the biggest upsets in recent SEC history and giving Commodore fans a moment they will genuinely never forget. In a conference loaded with five-star recruits and future first-round picks, a kid from NMMI walked into the SEC and outplayed all of it. (Via @qb1room 🔥)