Getty Image
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is one of the breakout stars of the 2024 college football season, and now he’s attempting to strike while the iron is hot.
Chris Lee of Vandy Sports reports that Pavia is suing the NCAA is hopes of gaining an extra year of eligibility in 2025.
Pavia’s representation filed a pair of briefs with the United States District Court Middle District of Tennessee at Nashville on Friday.
“Pavia is challenging NCAA bylaws that count JUCO years against his eligibility because junior college players have no meaningful opportunity to earn money from NIL,” Lee reports.
Pavia’s lawyer, Ryan Downton, told Vandy Sports that he expects the judge will set a hearing in the next two or three weeks.
Pavia spent two seasons playing junior college football at New Mexico Military Institute. He then spent two seasons at New Mexico State University before transferring to Vanderbilt for what was seemingly his final college season.
“The landscape of college football has changed dramatically over the last forty years,” Downton said of the case. “College football is now a multi-billion dollar business with top athletes able to make over a million dollars per year from NIL earnings.
“Because of those changes, JUCO football is not a reasonable equivalent to NCAA Division I college football and the NCAA Bylaws eliminating eligibility based on JUCO seasons are no longer valid restrictions under the United States antitrust laws.
“The restrictions in this caseare no different that other transfer restrictions eliminated by the NCAA earlier this year after a Court’s entry of a temporary restraining order in the State of Ohio v. NCAA case. We look forward to working with the NCAA to resolve this lawsuit in an equitable manner.”
Pavia has thrown for 1,677 yards, 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions for the 6-3 Commodores, who are bowl-eligible for the first time since 2018. He’s also rushed for 563 yards and four touchdowns and led the ‘Dores to their first win over Alabama since 1984.