Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia Sues NCAA for Additional Season of Eligibility.
Diego Pavia, the standout Vanderbilt quarterback, filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an effort to secure an additional season of college football eligibility. According to documents released by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville, Pavia's legal complaint challenges the NCAA's regulations, which limit the eligibility of former junior college athletes and restrict their opportunities to earn from name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.
Diego Pavia’s lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s treatment of junior college (JUCO) athletes. A former New Mexico Military Institute player, Pavia argues that the NCAA unfairly counts JUCO seasons against eligibility for athletes transitioning to Division I football and restricts their ability to earn from NIL.
Despite playing two seasons at New Mexico State, Pavia is now in his third season at Vanderbilt, placing him at the edge of his eligibility. Pavia contends that the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique challenges of JUCO athletes warrant an extra season. His lawsuit seeks to have the court review the NCAA’s rules and grant him a sixth year of eligibility, a possibility many athletes impacted by the pandemic haven’t had.
The lawsuit highlights several key concerns with NCAA regulations that are particularly relevant to athletes who come from junior colleges. According to Pavia’s legal team, the rules governing the counting of JUCO seasons toward eligibility unfairly penalize athletes for gaining experience at a lower level of competition. The complaint argues that the NCAA should reconsider these restrictions, particularly given the limited opportunities for JUCO athletes to earn NIL income, a major source of revenue for college athletes in today’s landscape.
The lawsuit calls for the NCAA to provide clarity on its rules and offer more flexibility, especially in light of the ongoing changes in college sports related to NIL deals and the impact of the pandemic on college seasons.
One of the key elements of Pavia's complaint is the restriction on NIL earnings for athletes like him who transferred from JUCO programs. The lawsuit suggests that the NCAA’s current policies create inequities between athletes coming from traditional four-year schools and those who played at the junior college level, where NIL opportunities have historically been more limited. In addition to seeking an extra year of eligibility, Pavia’s legal team is also asking the court to address the broader issues surrounding NIL rights for all college athletes, particularly for those transitioning from less visible programs to high-profile Division I schools.
