Diego Pavia is suing the NCAA.
The Vanderbilt quarterback is currently enrolled as a senior and is looking for another year or two of eligibility.
Pavia is in his first season at Vandy after transferring from New Mexico State, where he played two seasons as a center for the Aggies.
Prior to that, he spent two seasons at the junior college level as a quarterback at New Mexico State Military Academy.
Under NCAA rules, a JUCO season usually counts toward NCAA eligibility, but Pavia wants more than that. According to The Athletic.
Pavia argued in his lawsuit that the rule causes athletes to miss out on name, image, and likeness (NIL) prize money because junior college seasons count toward NCAA eligibility.
Pavia also said NCAA rules violate antitrust laws because governing bodies count junior college seasons toward eligibility and student-athletes cannot redshirt after four years of play. He claimed that there was.
Pavia won Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 before transferring to Vandy.
However, he did not receive any FBS offers after high school, which influenced his decision to go the JUCO route.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee, and Pavia is seeking a temporary restraining order against the NCAA.
Pavia claims he cannot play college football after the 2024 season.
“Athletes who play football outside of the NCAA monopoly have no meaningful opportunity to profit from their name, image, and likeness,” the complaint says. “Yet, the JUCO eligibility restriction bylaw limits athletes who begin their college football careers at junior colleges from having the same opportunity to benefit from the NIL as students who enter NCAA institutions as freshmen. I am.
“Specifically, the JUCO Eligibility Bylaws allow athletes who begin their collegiate careers at junior colleges to receive four seasons of competition (and NIL compensation opportunities) available in all other NCAA Division I I football player limited to only 2-3 seasons.”
In a high-profile win over Alabama earlier this season, Pavia completed 16 of 20 passes for 252 passing yards and two touchdowns.
The Commodores are bowl eligible at 6-3.
