Diego Pavia wants to play college football forever

Vanderbilt is off to another fast start in 2025. The Commodores might just be one more big win away from quarterback Diego Pavia becoming a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. But this might not be the only time he contends for the most prestigious individual trophy in sports.

The 24-year-old would like to return for a seventh season in college football in 2026. The player movement era is also the Van Wilder era in college athletics.

On3’s Pete Nakos reports that Diego Pavia’s attorney is ready to fight for another year of eligibility just one year after the former New Mexico State transfer was granted a preliminary injunction to play in 2025 after arguing that the NCAA’s redshirt rule involving junior college eligibility violates antitrust law.

“In a hearing Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Pavia’s attorney said unless the rules are not found to be subject to antitrust, they’re going to stack on a challenge to the redshirt rule and ask for an injunction so Pavia can play in 2026, according to sports law professor Sam Ehrlich,” writes Nakos.

On3 also reports that Pavia is making at least $2 million this season. Could the veteran quarterback be trying to secure another big pay day in 2026? Pavia won’t be seen as a top-end NFL Draft prospect, so staying in school would be the best way to continue making money. Could the biggest superstar in Vanderbilt football history really return for a third year in the SEC at age 25?

Other athletes have failed in court for eligibility lawsuits similar to this but Pavia was a rare winner. Could he actually win twice? It sounds the SEC Newcomer of the Year who has made Vandy a real threat in SEC football could be ready to fight to return to college football in 2026.

What a sport.