Diego Pavia has been one of CFB’s fastest-rising stars. The Vanderbilt QB exploded onto the national stage after leading the Commodores to a shocking win over Alabama in 2024. Since then, fame has followed him everywhere. This new spotlight can get Pavia to possibly even meet with one of his favorite popstars. He has also been rubbing elbows with big names, including comedian and podcaster Theo Von. Interestingly, on Saturday, it was reported that Pavia said he will get Von a date with his mom if Vanderbilt toppled South Carolina in Week 3.

Vanderbilt dominated the game, crushing South Carolina 31‑7, and the Commodores are now 3‑0 for the first time since 2017. The team even cracked the AP Top 25 at No. 20. And yes, that means Theo Von technically “won” the date with Diego Pavia’s mom. Given that, Von posted a playful photo of Antoinette Pavia from the broadcast, with a heart drawn around her face, captioned: “Where should I take her??” But Pavia quickly clarified, there was a catch to the deal, and it wasn’t quite what it seemed.

The story got even crazier on Sunday. Pavia took to X to set the record straight. Before Von could claim his prize, Pavia insisted the pop star Tate McRae had to be in the mix. “What Theo Von forgot is, it was only a deal if he told Tate Mcrae to let me take her on an A1 date in Nashville,” he wrote. “Twitter, make it happen.” So, the saga keeps getting wilder by the day. But that’s not the full story. Von attended Vanderbilt’s practice on Wednesday and was also on the sidelines Saturday for the Commodores’ win, where the original deal was first revealed.

SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic couldn’t resist digging into the wild story live on air. “You don’t even want to know what (Theo) told me about Diego Pavia‘s mom,” he said. “It’s not bad. It’s not like that at all. The way I understand this story, if Diego Pavia wins this game, he promised you he would set you up on a date with his mom?” Here, Von took the mic to clarify.

“Yes, it’s true,” remarked Von. “My goal is I’d like to marry a nurse someday, so that’s why. He was telling me about that. I like being his friend, so I don’t want to end up being like his stepdad or something. We’ll see what happens.” But how did Pavia perform in that game?

Diego Pavia went off against South Carolina, completing 18-of-25 passes for 177 yards. On top of that he racked up two TDs, with one interception. That’s not all. He also added 24 yards on 11 carries, showing his dual-threat ability. Now in his second season with Vanderbilt after transferring from New Mexico State,  Pavia has Vanderbilt looking like early SEC contenders. But off the field, he’s making the most of his rising fame, chasing a celebrity crush in true headline-making fashion. If things go right, maybe he and Theo Von can even turn it into a double date.

Diego Pavia challenges NCAA eligibility rules

Diego Pavia’s eligibility battle is back in the spotlight. On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit will hear the NCAA’s appeal of a ruling that allowed the Vandy QB to play this fall. Pavia, now 24 and in his 6th CFB season after stops at New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State, has challenged NCAA rules limiting athletes to 4 seasons of play. His argument is that the NCAA and its member schools are unlawfully restraining a labor market for CFB athletes in an increasingly professionalized environment.

Following that, the NCAA pushes back, citing the House settlement and the five-year rule as protections for college sports’ educational mission. Their brief argues that allowing players indefinite eligibility could undermine the system, “prevent[ing] intercollegiate athletics from becoming an indefinite detour from rather than a complement to education,” and notes that Pavia’s one-time 2025-26 waiver doesn’t moot the case. Moreover, they also warn of a flood of similar lawsuits destabilizing college athletics. But Pavia’s camp sees the rules differently.

Attorneys argue the House settlement has turned D-I football into a professional market, with revenue-sharing and NIL deals directly tied to playing status. “To the extent the NCAA ever had a valid argument that its eligibility rules were not commercial…that argument no longer exists after House,” says the brief. The case could reshape how eligibility is applied to JUCO transfers and redshirt players alike. Now, the three-judge panel: Chad Readler, Amul Thapar, and Whitney Hermandorfer, will hear oral arguments, but a ruling may take months.