Diego Pavia’s confidence is evident as he leads the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are currently ranked No. 15 in the nation. Despite their positive standing, they find themselves on the outskirts of the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture, especially compared to fourth-ranked Alabama.
Alabama previously defeated Vanderbilt earlier in the season, but Pavia’s competitive spirit shines through as he expressed a desire for a rematch, telling Alabama’s QB Ty Simpson during a post-game handshake, “we’ll see you again.” However, the outlook for Vanderbilt’s CFP aspirations appears bleak, as experts are skeptical about their chances of making a late-season surge.
Currently standing at 7-2, Vanderbilt is expected to secure victories against Auburn and Kentucky in the coming weeks. However, their regular season finale against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium looms large. While the Vols are also out of the CFP race, they aim to close out the year with a strong 9-3 record, and they will certainly be motivated to end Vanderbilt’s hopes as well.
Should Tennessee claim victory in this matchup, it will likely push Pavia and his team out of the playoff contention. While his determination is commendable, the realistic focus may need to shift away from thoughts of revenge against Alabama.
Meanwhile, the Tide remain undeterred by Vanderbilt, as they continue to aim for a national championship push. With promising performances from QB Ty Simpson, Alabama’s championship ambitions have garnered attention nationwide as they gear up for the playoffs. Overall, the stage is set for an exciting finish to the season, regardless of which teams ultimately secure a playoff spot.