After not qualifying for a bowl game since 2018, the Vanderbilt Commodores, led by Clark Lea, reached a significant milestone by securing bowl eligibility with their 17-7 victory over Auburn last Saturday. However, the head coach is aiming higher. “These guys are eager to push this as far as we can go,” he stated. Unfortunately, their ambitions faced a setback this weekend against the Gamecocks, where Diego Pavia and the team were well off the mark.
Following the Commodores’ victory over Auburn, Coach Lea remarked, “I believe this team understands that in our conference, we can’t afford to lose focus and expect the results we want.” The result Vanderbilt was hoping for was a win against South Carolina, which would have ended a 15-game losing streak against them. With this being their best start to a season since 1982, confidence was high. However, the 7-28 loss to the Gamecocks marked their largest defeat of the season, and star quarterback Diego Pavia’s performance did not stand out.
Interestingly, after the Commodores (6-4) lost, the SEC’s social media reaction suggested it was one of Pavia’s best performances.
While Pavia’s play was subpar, his teammates struggled as well. The whole team had difficulties on both ends of the field. The offense recorded 274 total yards (166 passing, 108 rushing), with 16 completions out of 31 attempts and only 5.4 yards per pass. Meanwhile, the defense had no answer for South Carolina, which racked up 452 yards, 14 completions out of 20 attempts, and 11.9 yards per pass. Despite the Gamecocks’ dominance in the game, and their win making them bowl-eligible, the SEC highlighted Diego Pavia instead of focusing on South Carolina’s achievement.
Remember Saquon Barkley’s incredible backward hurdle over a Jaguars defender last week? Well, Diego Pavia had a similar moment in his game against South Carolina. While facing the Gamecocks, Pavia leaped over South Carolina’s No. 24, but instead of a backward jump, he did it while running forward. However, he was quickly brought down by defenders before even landing.
The SEC Network shared the play on Instagram, calling Pavia an “ATHLETE” with the caption, “DIEGO PAVIA IS AN ATHLETE 😤.” While the move was impressive, not everyone was impressed. Some fans weren’t as impressed with Pavia’s performance, leading to criticism of both him and the SEC Network. One frustrated fan commented, “Too bad he can’t throw the ball.” At the time of the play, South Carolina was up by 7 points, leaving many questioning Pavia’s decision.
Diego Pavia’s overall performance in the game included 166 passing yards with a 51.6% completion rate. While he didn’t throw any interceptions, he was sacked twice. Pavia also rushed for 65 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. In comparison, his South Carolina counterpart, LaNorris Sellers, threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns.
However, later in the game, Pavia sustained a lower-body injury. In the fourth quarter, he completed a pass to Loic Fouonji on a third-and-17 play, but it was called back for offensive pass interference. Shortly after, backup quarterback Nate Johnson took over, leading to a fourth-down punt. Pavia was then helped off the field due to his injury.
After the loss, head coach Clark Lea acknowledged South Carolina’s dominance, saying, “Obviously, that was a tough night, tough result. I first want to credit (Gamecocks head coach) Shane [Beamer] and South Carolina. I thought they, obviously, were the better team, the more physical team, tonight. That was a three-phase a**-kicking and credit to them. On our end, it’s easy to be disappointed right now. I’m frustrated with coming up short… and also with the feeling that we didn’t represent ourselves the way that we wanted.”
Despite the defeat, the SEC Network post about Pavia’s play quickly sparked backlash, with criticism directed at the quarterback rather than the entire Vanderbilt team. Fans questioned whether Pavia is “overrated,” especially since South Carolina capitalized on his injury and prevented Vanderbilt from getting back into the game. Although Pavia did manage a 17-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, cutting the score to 14-7, some fans mocked him for his limited impact, commenting, “So good he could only get 7 points on the board.”
Pavia has dealt with injuries throughout the season, including knee and shoulder issues, but was seen back on the field after some time off. This has led some fans to wonder if this latest injury is more serious. One fan even criticized Pavia as the “most overrated player in the SEC,” predicting that Vanderbilt would finish with just six wins.
Through 10 games this season, Diego Pavia has racked up 1,843 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Recently, he also filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, adding to the attention surrounding him. This could explain why the SEC Network decided to share his highlight play.
That said, the Vanderbilt Commodores earned widespread respect after their upset win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, with experts and even NFL legends praising their performance. They carried that momentum into the season but felt that their loss to South Carolina served as a reality check, leaving them doubtful about surpassing six wins this year.
After the game, fans have been critical of Pavia, with some even mocking him by calling him “Diego Poverty.” One comment humorously suggested, “Diego Pavia—>Diego Poverty.” Some fans have also suggested that Pavia might need to consider moving on from football, with one remarking, “bro needa get a job already,” reflecting the level of frustration among supporters. Meanwhile, head coach Clark Lea will need to trust his players more, especially after their strong win against No. 10 Texas A&M, 44-20, just the week before.
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