The Vanderbilt Commodores came up short in their push for a College Football Playoff berth when the committee announced the official 12-team field.
However, Vanderbilt is locked in for one last game, as they’re scheduled to face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Dec. 31 in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The matchup will feature star quarterback and Heisman finalist Diego Pavia, who will be making his final appearance in a Commodores uniform before turning his attention to the NFL draft in April.
Even with one collegiate game still left to play, Pavia officially announced that he has accepted an invite to compete in the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl — a major opportunity to boost his draft stock, which currently varies widely among analysts.
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NFL draft buzz, which evaluates upcoming prospects, currently ranks Pavia as the No. 96 overall player and projects him as a third-round pick, drawing comparisons to Jaren Hall, J.J. McCarthy, and Matt Corral.
“Evaluating Pavia requires accepting the contradictions that define his game,” his scouting report reads. “His 6’0″ frame and 200-pound build create immediate red flags for NFL evaluators, yet his exceptional downfield accuracy and elite mobility present compelling reasons for development. The height concerns that plague him in traditional pocket concepts become less problematic when offenses utilize his natural ability to extend plays and create from movement. However, asking him to consistently operate as a pure pocket passer exposes fundamental limitations that cannot be coached away.”
The Senior Bowl will be played on Jan. 31 at Hancock Whitney Stadium at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Other senior quarterbacks who have already accepted invites include Arkansas’ Taylen Green and Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson.
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