Could Diego Pavia Become a Permanent College Football Player? In what might be the most riveting college football matchup of the season, the real action unfolded not on the gridiron but in a courtroom on Tuesday this week.

The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit hosted a showdown between the NCAA and Diego Pavia’s legal team. They are fighting for their quarterback to play a sixth—and potentially seventh—season of college football.  That sounds good for Dores fans, as Vandy is rolling this year. Right, Shane Beamer?

That’s right, forget about the usual Saturday tailgates and cheerleader routines; this is legal drama with a side of gridiron glory. Pavia, who has taken the scenic route through college football—from the New Mexico Military Institute (not an NCAA school, mind you) to New Mexico State, and now, Vanderbilt—has his sights set on breaking the very concept of college eligibility.

Imagine this: Pavia’s attorneys aren’t just looking to extend his eligibility into 2026; they’re channeling their inner legal rock stars and challenging the core of NCAA rules. They argue that if college football is a job (which it is, thanks to NIL deals), then why limit players to just four or five years? Why not let them play until they’re old enough to collect Social Security?

The reasoning is as compelling as a last-second Hail Mary pass.  Being a college football player is now as much a profession as being a dentist or a barista at your favorite local coffee shop. And if that’s the case, why should we put an age limit on it?  Why indeed?  After all, one of the top movies in America, The Senior, is based on the true story of Mike Flynt, a 59-year-old college football player.

Pavia’s legal team is diving deep into the murky waters of antitrust law, suggesting that the NCAA’s rules are outdated and unfair. They’re arguing that the 4-to-play-5 rule should evolve into a 5-to-play-5 rule—because, at this point, why stop there? If I can binge-watch an entire season of a show on Britbox in one weekend, Pavia should be allowed to play until he’s hitched and has a couple of kids cheering from the stands. Maybe one or two could be teammates.

The NCAA, of course, has a different perspective. They argue that college sports are meant to be a temporary gig, like a summer job at a fast-food restaurant, but with more concussions. They claim that allowing older players to stick around would stifle opportunities for younger athletes. But let’s be real: college football is more than a stepping stone; it’s a full-blown reality show with high stakes, and the drama is thicker than a bowl of Rob Wynkoop’s chili at a Vandy tailgate.

Here’s the kicker: if Pavia’s legal team succeeds, we might not just see him back for a sixth season; we could be looking at a future where college football stars play until they reach the age of retirement—or at least until they can no longer outrun the defensive line. The NCAA’s arguments about preserving the sanctity of college sports may soon look as outdated as a flip phone.

Although a ruling is still months away, speculation is already swirling. Will Pavia’s lawyers push for unlimited eligibility next year? Will we see a new breed of college football players who treat the field like a never-ending job? And will we eventually need to set up a retirement plan for them?

Diego Pavia has indicated that he plans for this to be his final college football season. But in a world where college football eligibility is up for debate, we should all take a deep breath and remember: in sports as in life, never say never. As they say, “Hope springs eternal,” and in this case, it may just spring right into 2026 and beyond.

JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee and a contributing editor of TriStar News.