Diego Pavia on brothers getting arrested: 'Albuquerque is like a real-life GTA, it's been like normal to us'

Diego Pavia has once again taken the college football world by storm — especially within the SEC — while directing No. 13 Vanderbilt onto the College Football Playoff bubble. The Commodores’ sixth-year senior quarterback is also among the leading favorites to be in New York City for next weekend’s 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony.

But amid all the splashy plays and impressive stats, Pavia’s family has found itself on the wrong side of the law on multiple occassions this season, including during last Saturday’s regular-season finale against Tennessee when his brother Javier was arrested by Knoxville Police and charged with public initoxication. The 25-year-old Javier Pavia reportedly “got mouthy with an officer” when he was asked to take down a large flag that was blocking the view of other fans inside Neyland Stadium, according to Knox News’ Tyler Whetstone. Javier Pavia was later released under his own recognizance after spending the night in jail.

Of course, that wasn’t the Pavias brothers’ first run-in with authorities this season. Earlier this season, Javier and 26-year-old Roel Pavia — Diego’s older brothers — were arrested and charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest following Vanderbilt’s season-opening win over Charleston Southern in Nashville, according to court documents. Roel also faced an additional charge of assault on law enforcement, per court records, and both cases remain open according to online records.

Diego Pavia opened up about his brothers’ repeated run-ins with law enforcement during a recent podcast appearance on Bussin’ With The Boys with former Big Ten and NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, alongside family friend and comedian Theo Von. There, he defended his family’s behavior, citing their hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“The thing is, Albuquerque is like a real-life GTA (the “Grand Theft Auto” video game series), so it’s always been kind of like normal to us, you know,” Pavia said on Tuesday’s episode of Bussin’ With The Boys. “And these have been the first two years where it’s been like, alright, we have to chill out.”

That directive to “chill out” went out the window this season, with Diego Pavia seemingly suggesting his brothers’ beligerent behavior helped the Commodores win games.

“I think that’s the best part about them. Well, this is the other (reason) why I let them be them. So last year (after) we beat Alabama and we’re going on a crazy run, (and against) Kentucky they were running wild too, and then it was like, ‘Hey, we need to calm down, everything is getting out of control.’ Ever since that day, (before) we were 5-2, we only won one other game against Auburn and we barely slipped by,” Diego Pavia continued, pointing out Vandy’s 1-4 record in its final five regular-season games of 2024. “And they weren’t drinking, nothing. I was like, ‘You know what, f*** it, next year get hammered as much as you want. That’s the only time we win.’ And you know what, my brother only stayed sober for the Alabama game and the Texas game. Dead ass.”

Of course, the Alabama and Texas games were Vanderbilt’s lone losses this season, potentially adding credence to Diego’s line of thinking. With no more regular-season games remaining, the Pavias will learn whether the 13th-ranked ‘Dores (10-2, 7-2 SEC) make this year’s 12-team College Football Playoff field along with everyone else on Selection Sunday following Championship Weekend.