Overview

• Diego Pavia reiterated on Paul Finebaum’s show that winning a national championship is “the standard,” emphasizing he was serious about his preseason proclamation.
• Commentators at OutKick and the Daily Caller have publicly dismissed his title aspirations as unrealistic and overconfident.
• Pavia’s belief is rooted in last season’s 40-35 upset of No. 1 Alabama and the Commodores defense under Clark Lea, which generated a +9 turnover differential.
• Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has criticized Vanderbilt’s home environment, prompting Pavia to call for a larger Commodore fan presence at away games.
• Ongoing College Football Playoff selection discussions and amplified fan support add new stakes to Vanderbilt’s underdog narrative as the 2025 season approaches.