Diego Pavia, the Vanderbilt quarterback who became a fan favorite after leading the Commodores to one of college football’s biggest upsets, has sparked controversy with comments about the Big Ten Conference.
The 24-year-old signal-caller made waves on the "Bussing with the Boys" podcast when he criticized the Big Ten’s competitiveness compared to the SEC.
“You want to play with the best—you don’t want to play with the Big Ten. The SEC is, like, nothing. Like, okay, the Big Ten, you have Ohio State, Oregon—the SEC, it’s like week after week. You’re going to get beaten on. The Big Ten, you’re not going to get beat on with the Purdue, Nebraskas.”
Pavia’s comments came months after his breakout season at Vanderbilt.
The six-foot quarterback transferred from New Mexico State and quickly established himself in the SEC. His biggest moment came in October when Vanderbilt shocked top-ranked Alabama in Nashville.
That upset victory became one of the most stunning results in modern college football.
Pavia’s playing style drew comparisons to former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel. His performance against Alabama showcased the scrambling ability and field vision that made him a transfer portal success story.
The quarterback’s bowl season comments don’t align with recent results between the conferences.
The Big Ten posted an 11-6 bowl record compared to the SEC’s 8-7 mark. Head-to-head matchups favored the Big Ten 5-1 against SEC opponents during bowl season.
Both conferences have expanded significantly in recent years. The Big Ten now includes traditional powerhouses like Ohio State alongside programs Pavia mentioned like Purdue and Nebraska.
The SEC also features teams at different competitive levels beyond its traditional powers.
Vanderbilt itself finished the season with mixed results after the Alabama upset. The Commodores showed marked improvement under head coach Clark Lea but still face questions about sustained success.
Pavia’s junior college background and stop at New Mexico State before arriving at Vanderbilt made his SEC debut even more impressive to fans.
The quarterback’s personality and humble approach during interviews contributed to his popularity during Vanderbilt’s surprising season.
His recent podcast appearance marks a different tone from those earlier media sessions.
Vanderbilt faces a challenging schedule again this fall. The program will need consistent quarterback play from Pavia to build on last season’s momentum.
The Commodores open against Georgia State, providing an early test for Pavia and the team’s ability to maintain their improved play.
