Star QB Sues NCAA as Bowl Game Hopes End

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia lost his final game of the season this week. At the same time, his legal fight against the NCAA is moving forward. Pavia is suing the association for one more year of playing eligibility. The NCAA rules, or eligibility clock, normally limit athletes to four seasons of competition. Pavia argues that his first season should not count because the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted it. His lawsuit against the NCAA was recently moved to a federal court. This signals a more serious legal phase. Pavia transferred to Vanderbilt for his final year of eligibility. He led the team to a bowl game, which they lost. His college career is now over unless the lawsuit succeeds. The case challenges the NCAA's strict eligibility timeline. A win for Pavia could affect other athletes whose early careers were impacted by the pandemic.