It’s common knowledge that Hugh Freeze had the opportunity to pursue Diego Pavia during the January 2024 transfer portal window but chose not to. Instead, he remained committed to Payton Thorne as Auburn’s starting quarterback and looked for a backup from the group of Hank Brown, Walker White, and Holden Geriner.
What wasn’t known until recently is that Freeze literally laughed off Pavia’s suggestion that he sign him this after New Mexico State’s stunning 31-10 win over Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium under the lights in 2023. Pavia shared the story during a recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ Jon Gruden’s QB Class, recalling how he told Freeze right after that improbable upset, “Dude, come get me. Come get me,” but got nowhere.
“The week before, I pulled my hamstring. So I really wasn’t supposed to play that week. But I was like, ‘No, this is my time.’ Everyone’s hitting the transfer portal, moving up. I’m thinking, if we put these guys away, Auburn’s going to offer me,” Pavia said.
Diego Pavia would’ve been a quarterback upgrade over anyone in Auburn’s room.
Could have, should have, would have. Freeze might argue it wasn’t an obvious signing at the time, and that Walker White was a big recruit, but there were clearly already doubts about Thorne’s play he was quickly replaced by Brown early in the 2024 season. That move didn’t work out or last long. Thorne was back as starter once SEC play began, and Auburn finished 5–7. Then the 2025 season ended the same way on the Plains: 5–7, with Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels splitting reps in a lackluster offense.
Freeze could have taken a chance on Pavia after being humbled on his own field, but instead Vanderbilt benefited when Pavia entered the portal in 2024. Pavia went on to beat Freeze again at Auburn in 2024, then defeated DJ Durkin in Durkin’s first game as interim head coach this past November. Vanderbilt won 10 games in 2025 and was one of the first teams left out of the College Football Playoff.
He may not have much of an NFL future as an undersized quarterback, but Pavia had one unforgettable college career largely at Auburn’s expense.
So who’s laughing now?
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