Booger McFarland endorses Diego Pavia as Heisman finalist, invokes Texas to pump up Vanderbilt
It’s hard not to be impressed with what Vanderbilt has done this season. The Commodores reached the 10-win mark for the first time in program history, proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC behind Heisman hopeful quarterback Diego Pavia.
Despite this, Vanderbilt sits on the outside looking in of the College Football Playoff, coming in at No. 14 in the latest rankings. There are four two-loss teams and even one three-loss team ahead of the Commodores as Texas jumped to No. 13 after taking down Texas A&M this weekend.
The Longhorn at least have the head-to-head win against Vanderbilt from earlier this season, so it can be justified using that logic. However, Booger McFarland still had a bone to pick with the committee.
“Everybody keeps beating the horn and talking about Texas, Texas, Texas, but if you like Texas, you’ve got to like Vanderbilt at 10-2,” the ESPN analyst said on Tuesday’s rankings reveal show. “How they’ve played, Diego Pavia should be in New York for the Heisman Trophy. Clark Lea gets an extension. This is a team that’s on the rise and they’re playing as good of football as anyone in America.”
Pavia has certainly put himself right in the middle of the Heisman Trophy discussion. He has thrown for 3,192 yards and leading then SEC in both passing touchdowns (27) and completion percentage (71.2%) with eight interceptions. He has also rushed for 826 yards and nine touchdowns.
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Pavia is currently second in odds to win the Heisman behind Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. No Vanderbilt player has ever won the Heisman Trophy, so Pavia has a chance to make even more history in his final season of college football.
As McFarland mentioned, the stellar play from Vanderbilt also landed coach Clark Lea a contract extension. The coach inked a six-year deal that also included a significant salary increase.
In spite of the historic season, Vanderbilt will likely not make the College Football Playoff. However, that doesn’t take away from what it has accomplished. The Commodores have been one of the biggest surprises of this season and, even without a chance to compete for a championship, it will be remembered in Nashville for years to come.