Diego Pavia's name is now etched in Vanderbilt football history as one of the program's all-time greats, a quarterback whose dynamic play captivated the SEC. But his path to Nashville almost took a dramatic detour through Auburn.

In a recent appearance on Jon Gruden's "QB Class" show, Pavia revealed a fascinating "what-if" from his journey. Before linking up with Coach Clark Lea at Vanderbilt, and before his former New Mexico State coach Jerry Kill joined the Commodores' staff, Pavia made a direct pitch to an SEC rival.

Reflecting on his 2023 season at New Mexico State, Pavia and Gruden revisited the Aggies' stunning 31-10 upset of Auburn—a game where Pavia, playing through a hamstring injury, threw for three touchdowns as a 25-point underdog. Seeing it as his moment to break out, Pavia had a specific goal. "I'm thinking, if we put these guys away, Auburn’s going to offer me," he told Gruden.

And after orchestrating the historic win, he didn't wait for an offer. He went straight to the source. Pavia recounted approaching Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze after the game with a direct message: "Dude, come get me. Come get me." Freeze, according to Pavia, simply laughed it off.

That moment of rejection ultimately worked out for the best. Landing at Vanderbilt instead, Pavia exploded onto the SEC scene, earning 2024 SEC Newcomer of the Year honors. He followed that with a Heisman-finalist campaign in 2025, amassing over 4,000 total yards and 36 touchdowns while leading the Commodores to a record-setting 10-win season.

His story is a testament to resilience and seizing opportunity, proving that sometimes the best fit isn't the most obvious one. Now, as he prepares for the NFL Draft, that signature win over Auburn remains a pivotal chapter in the making of a Vanderbilt legend.