After notching one major legal victory over the NCAA back in December, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and his attorney could potentially push for him to receive a seventh year of eligibility in 2026.

According to NCAA rules, Pavia should have exhausted his eligibility following the 2024 season, given his two years at junior college, two years at New Mexico State and one year with the Commodores. However, he sued the NCAA for a sixth season and was granted a temporary injunction in December, allowing him to play the 2025 season.

The NCAA also granted blanket eligibility for players who previously competed at a non-NCAA program for the 2025 season.

Now, however, it seems he may push for an additional year. According to sports law professor Sam Ehrlich, Pavia's attorneys will push for a seventh season of eligibility unless the court finds that the NCAA redshirt rules are not subject to antitrust law.

It seems Pavia's representatives would argue that the five-year eligibility clock shouldn't begin until a player joins an NCAA institution. The potential hangup would be that players are only permitted to play in four seasons without redshirting, which Pavia already has at the FBS level.

It remains to be seen if his appeal will be granted, but if it were, it could have major impacts on NCAA rules and may lead to changes to rules permitting players to participate in only four full seasons.

Pavia himself also pushed back on the idea that he would be seeking a seventh year in a post on social media in which he claimed the 2025 season would be his last in college football.

Diego Pavia's impact for the Vanderbilt Commodores

Pavia joined the Commodores ahead of the 2024 season, and he is currently 10-6 as a starting quarterback for Vandy. He threw for 20 touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 800 yards and eight more scores last season.

So far in 2025, he has completed 73.5% of his passes for 645 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions while guiding Vanderbilt to a 3-0 start.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia pushes back on claim that he will seek a 7th year of eligibility

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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