Following last week’s court ruling that will allow Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia another season of eligibility to compete in 2025, the NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors granted a waiver Monday that permits all current athletes who attended junior colleges or other non-NCAA schools to remain eligible for 2025-26 if they otherwise would have been out of eligibility.
The NCAA also said in a news release that it has filed a notice of appeal of the Tennessee court’s ruling that granted a preliminary injunction to Pavia.
In response to last week’s Pavia case ruling, NCAA DI board granted a blanket waiver to permit athletes who have attended non-NCAA schools for one or more years to remain eligible in 2025-26, if they otherwise would not have been. 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/JIj9vHmfhG
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) December 23, 2024
Last month, Pavia filed an antitrust suit against the NCAA, arguing that its longstanding rule that counts junior college seasons toward an athlete’s four years of eligibility constituted an unlawful restraint on his ability to earn name, image and likeness compensation. Pavia played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to Football Bowl Subdivision schools New Mexico State in 2022 and then Vanderbilt this year.
The ruling only applied to Pavia, but the NCAA decided that while it will continue to fight the case, it would grant the waiver to all athletes rather than face similar lawsuits.
The waiver only applies to the 2025-26 school year and athletes in all sports whose eligibility was running out after the current school year. Athletes who want to take advantage of the waiver must still “meet all other eligibility requirements (e.g., progress toward degree, five-year period of eligibility).”
The NCAA said its D-I board and council authorized a comprehensive eligibility review this past June “to create an eligibility framework that will be sustainable and can withstand scrutiny. That review already resulted in action to modernize collegiate sports.” The NCAA said it will continue to address the issue during January governance meetings.
Pavia initially sought a temporary restraining order in hopes of having his eligibility restored prior to the transfer portal opening on Dec. 9. Judge William Campbell Jr. denied that request but granted Pavia an injunction, which allows him to prepare to play next year while his lawsuit is pending.
Pavia is expected to start for the Commodores in the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Tech on Dec. 27.
His lawyer, Ryan Downton, told Rivals.com last week that he expect Pavia will remain at Vanderbilt next season.
Pavia was named to the AP All-SEC second team this season and earned SEC Newcomer of the Year, leading Vandy to a memorable upset of Alabama on Oct. 5 and the program’s first bowl berth in six years. He threw for 2,133 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions and ran for 716 yards and six touchdowns.
(Photo: Carly Mackler / Getty Images)
