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Vanderbilt Commodores Quarterback Diego Pavia suffered a setback in his quest for a ReliaQuest Bowl victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday afternoon.
Iowa won the game 34–27.
Pavia was 25 of 38 for 347 yards with three total touchdowns – two passing and one rushing. The Heisman Trophy finalist ran for an 11-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to seven points. Iowa and Vanderbilt then traded field goals, but the Commodores were unable to get the ball back.
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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia throws a pass against Iowa during the first half of the ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The loss, which ended Vanderbilt's season, came as Pavia battled the NCAA over eligibility rules. While he may end up entering the NFL draft, the lawsuit continues in hopes of helping other junior college players. The claim is contested NCAA rule this counts seasons played in junior colleges for players' participation in Division I football.
Last week, an attorney for Pavia and 26 other players cited the NCAA's decision to allow an NBA draft pick to return to college basketball as the reason a federal judge should allow his clients to play in 2026 and 2027.
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Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 31, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Pavia initially sued the NCAA in November 2024 and won a preliminary injunction a few weeks later that allowed him to play this season. He was the SEC Player of the Year this season after passing for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdown passes in the regular season. The Commodores finished 10-3 with a loss to Iowa.
Since then, 26 more plaintiffs have joined the quarterback's lawsuit, including Tennessee Volunteers defenseman Joey Aguilar.
NCAA rules give athletes five years to complete four seasons of eligibility, which begins at any “collegiate institution,” regardless of whether the school is an NCAA member.
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Pavia played at New Mexico Military Institute in 2020, but was not considered for selection due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He led the school to the Junior College National Championship before playing State of New Mexico in 2022 and 2023, followed by Vanderbilt.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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