Diego Pavia Boldly Declares Vanderbilt Will “Run Tennessee” After This Season, Sparking SEC Shockwaves and Rivalry Tension

Diego Pavia isn’t backing down. In fact, he’s charging straight into the fire — and he’s bringing Vanderbilt football with him.

The former New Mexico State star quarterback, now the leader of the Commodores, has sent shockwaves across the Southeastern Conference with a brash declaration that has instantly become bulletin board material in Knoxville: “We’re going to run Tennessee after this season.”

For a Vanderbilt program long overshadowed by its SEC rivals and perpetually looking up at the rest of the conference standings, this isn’t just talk — it’s a challenge. A shot across the bow. And more than anything, it’s the first real sign that the Commodores, under second-year head coach Clark Lea and now with Pavia at the helm, believe they can rewrite the narrative.

Pavia’s comments came during an offseason media appearance, when asked about how he viewed the upcoming rivalry game against Tennessee. Most players might’ve sidestepped the question. Not Pavia.

“Tennessee’s had their time. No disrespect to their players, but I’m not here to bow down to anybody,” he said. “We’re building something real at Vandy. After this season, people are going to see — we’re going to run Tennessee.”

That kind of confidence, bordering on cocky, is exactly what Vanderbilt fans have been longing for. In a league dominated by titans like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU — and with in-state Tennessee reaping the rewards of recent recruiting success and national attention — the Commodores have often played the role of the quiet underdog. Now? The quiet part is officially over.

Pavia isn’t new to shaking up expectations. At New Mexico State, he led the Aggies to a 10-win season and back-to-back bowl appearances, winning MVP honors in the Quick Lane Bowl and earning national attention for his gritty, dual-threat playmaking. His transfer to Vanderbilt was seen as a bold move — both by him and the program — but it’s clear Pavia didn’t make the leap to the SEC just to participate. He came to lead.

“This is the SEC. You don’t come here unless you want to prove something,” Pavia continued. “I respect what Coach Heupel has done over at Tennessee. He’s built a strong team. But I didn’t come here to admire it. I came here to beat it.”

Those words are bound to fuel one of the South’s oldest, if often lopsided, rivalries. Tennessee leads the all-time series against Vanderbilt by a wide margin, having dominated the matchup for most of the past two decades. But history doesn’t seem to faze Pavia.

What matters to him is momentum. And even though Vanderbilt finished last season at the bottom of the SEC standings, there are quiet signs of growth within the program. Lea’s vision — to make Vanderbilt a destination where academic prestige and football competitiveness aren’t mutually exclusive — has slowly taken shape. Add in a quarterback like Pavia, and suddenly that vision has a spark.

“He’s fearless,” said Coach Lea of his new QB1. “We brought Diego in because he competes at the highest level and leads with conviction. His energy is infectious. He believes we can do something special, and he’s pushing our entire team to believe it too.”

That belief may be met with rolled eyes in Knoxville, where the Vols have built an SEC contender and consistently top recruiting classes under Josh Heupel. The team that once languished in inconsistency has found an identity rooted in tempo, offensive firepower, and talent-rich depth. For many in Tennessee’s orbit, Pavia’s remarks are less intimidating and more… amusing.

“Vanderbilt running Tennessee?” said one Tennessee fan on social media. “That’s cute.”

But in college football, where pride, emotion, and locker room motivation often tilt the balance, bold proclamations like Pavia’s don’t go unnoticed — especially when they come from a program desperate to change its narrative.

And it’s not just talk from the Commodores’ camp. Vanderbilt has quietly made moves that signal it’s not content with remaining a doormat. Pavia is joined by a revamped offensive line, new playmakers at wide receiver from the portal, and an aggressive defensive coordinator in Nick Howell who promises to bring pressure on every down. Spring practices in Nashville were filled with intensity, competition, and most importantly, unity.

“We’re not going to be pushed around,” Pavia said. “This is a different Vanderbilt team. We’re not going to apologize for wanting to win. And that includes beating Tennessee.”

How realistic is that? Depends on who you ask.

Pavia’s arrival changes the ceiling for Vanderbilt, no doubt. He’s the most experienced and dynamic quarterback the Commodores have had in years, bringing mobility, confidence, and a proven ability to win against tougher opponents. His leadership could be the X-factor in games where execution and belief determine the outcome.

The matchup against Tennessee is circled on the calendar — November 29th at Neyland Stadium. By then, both teams will have endured the SEC gauntlet, and much can change. But the stakes are already higher than usual thanks to Pavia’s comments.

“You want rivalries to mean something,” said Lea. “You want your players to believe they can compete. Diego believes that, and he’s holding everyone — coaches included — to that standard. We embrace it.”

Tennessee, for its part, hasn’t publicly responded to Pavia’s comments — but you can bet they’ve been noticed. In a rivalry where Tennessee has historically held the upper hand, motivation has rarely come from Vanderbilt’s side. This time, it may be the Vols who walk into the game looking to prove a point.

Still, Pavia isn’t worried about that. His focus is internal.

“I can’t control what they think in Knoxville. I only control what we do here in Nashville. And trust me — we’re coming.”

In an era when NIL deals, transfer portal chaos, and coaching drama dominate headlines, Pavia’s statement feels old-school in its essence — a player declaring war, staking a claim, and asking his team to back it up on the field.

And that’s exactly what makes college football special.

For years, Vanderbilt has played the quiet, humble, academic-first role in the SEC’s gritty football culture. But with a quarterback like Diego Pavia now leading the charge, the Commodores are finally making noise — and they’re daring to dream big.

Whether or not Vanderbilt can make good on Pavia’s bold promise remains to be seen. But what’s certain is this: the battle lines have been drawn, and November’s showdown with Tennessee has just become must-watch football.

SEC media days are still weeks away, but the first major shot of the 2025 season has already been fired. And it came not from Georgia or Alabama — but from Vanderbilt’s new quarterback, who’s not afraid to speak the unthinkable.

“We’re going to run Tennessee.”

Those six words might haunt Pavia if things go poorly. Or they might be the rallying cry of a new era in Nashville.

Either way, he’s not backing down. And neither, it seems, is Vanderbilt.

Let the rivalry begin.