US District Judge William L. Campbell granted a preliminary injunction allowing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to play the 2025 season at the Division I level, despite NCAA rules that would have limited his eligibility due to starting college at a junior college.
Campbell’s ruling comes after Pavia filed a lawsuit in November seeking an additional season of eligibility. The judge found that the NCAA’s eligibility rules are “restraints on trade with substantial anticompetitive effects,” as they differentiate treatment between prep school athletes and those who start at junior colleges.
Pavia, who led his junior college team to a national championship in 2021, will now be allowed to play for Vanderbilt without penalty. The team will compete in the Birmingham Bowl on December 27th for its first time since 2018. Pavia’s decision to extend his college career has been met with praise from coach Clark Lea, who said it was “great news” for the team and their fans.
The ruling is seen as a significant win for college athletes’ rights, allowing players to potentially earn more than $1 million in NIL compensation. The NCAA’s bylaws have long prohibited junior college athletes from playing at the Division I level after starting at a JC, but Campbell’s decision may pave the way for similar cases in the future.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won’t play for any FBS schools due to limited NIL opportunities at Volcano Vista High School. He is now eligible to stay with the Commodores through his next masters’ program in legal studies starting in January.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/vanderbilt-diego-pavia-preliminary-injunction-2025-029ed63d2520a2930be197d31ccc0e5f