Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia Shines in Victory Over LSU

In a thrilling match on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia led his team to a 31-24 victory over LSU.

Following a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, Pavia celebrated by striking a Heisman Trophy pose with a playful money-throwing gesture, paying tribute to his mentor, Johnny Manziel.

Manziel, who famously won the Heisman during his freshman year at Texas A&M in 2012, has influenced Pavia’s style of play, which fans have observed closely. He shared advice with Pavia, cautioning him to learn from his own past mistakes. “I’m trying to tell him, ‘Learn from your mistakes, brother. Be smart. Don’t lose control’,” Manziel commented earlier this month.

Pavia, 24, indeed took to the field with a mix of energy and skill, completing 14 of 22 passes for 160 yards and one touchdown. His performance was particularly highlighted by his running, where he gained 86 yards and scored two touchdowns on 17 carries.

With this victory, No. 17 Vanderbilt achieved its sixth win of the season, boasting a 6-1 record—its best start in 75 years. Coach Clark Lee noted the significance of the win but reminded everyone that there is still much of the season ahead to navigate. “We’ve earned the right to celebrate, but this one game doesn’t define us,” he stated.

Interestingly, after the game, Pavia wasn’t able to address reporters in the usual post-match setting, although he did manage a brief conversation with ESPN and ABC sideline reporters right after. “I’m very grateful for this,” he shared. “This team is really special. We always have each other’s backs. If someone doesn’t, they must be out of the game.”