Vanderbilt Announces Diego Pavia News Amid College Football Season

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Vanderbilt Announces Diego Pavia News Amid College Football Season

Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores concluded the 2025 college football regular season with a Week 14 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. They’re 10-2 and riding a three-game winning streak.

It’s already the first double-digit win season in program history. Much of that success can be attributed to Pavia. In 12 games, he’s completed 242-of-340 passes for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s also run for 826 yards and nine touchdowns on 152 carries.

Vanderbilt’s season still isn’t over, earning the No. 14 spot in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings. Even if the Commodores don’t earn a playoff spot on Sunday’s final rankings, they’ve reached bowl game eligibility.

Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2).Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

While leading the team to one of its best seasons, the graduate quarterback is earning a lot of recognition. On Friday, Vanderbilt announced that Pavia won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

“2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award WINNER Diego Pavia #AnchorDown | @GoldenArmAward,” the team wrote via an X post.

The award is named after former Louisville Cardinals quarterback Johnny Unitas, whose No. 16 is retired by his alma mater. He’s also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, most notably known for his 17-year stint with the Baltimore Colts.

The award is given annually to college football’s top upperclassmen quarterback. Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders took it home last season. Pavia now becomes the first player from Vanderbilt to ever win it.

Along with Pavia, the other top candidates were Georgia Tech’s Haynes King, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Texas A&M‘s Marcel Reed and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton.

This is also Pavia’s final year of eligibility at the collegiate level. With their playoff fate yet to be decided, he and Vanderbilt will have at least one more game to play.

Related: Miami Shares Carson Beck Update on Friday

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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