Who Is Diego Pavia Dating? Latest Rumors & Personal Life News

By Jason Bolton January 07, 2026 09:25

As the dust settles on the 2025 college football season, Diego Pavia's name remains one of the hottest in the sport. The Vanderbilt quarterback, who led the Commodores to a historic 10-2 record and their first-ever Heisman finalist appearance, finished runner-up to Indiana's Fernando Mendoza in the Heisman voting. Pavia threw for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions while rushing for over 800 yards and additional scores, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors. His dual-threat style and underdog story from JUCO to New Mexico State to Vanderbilt captivated fans. But off the field, Pavia's personal life draws equal curiosity. Is the 23-year-old signal-caller dating anyone? As of January 2026, the answer is no he appears firmly single, with his focus locked on family, faith, and football.

Pavia's journey is rooted in resilience. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by a single mom, Antoinette Padilla, he grew up in a competitive household with brothers Roel Jr. and Javier, plus sister Abrielle. "I didn’t grow up with a whole lot," Pavia told Kirk Herbstreit earlier in the season. "My mom’s a single mom, and she’s the backbone of our family. When I didn’t have a whole lot, it was like, ‘What’s my way out?’" Padilla, a nurse who rarely misses games, became a viral sensation herself often shown on broadcasts celebrating wildly, striking Heisman poses, or dancing in custom Vanderbilt gear. Her presence sparked memes, including a lighthearted bet where Pavia promised comedian Theo Von a date with his mom if Vandy beat South Carolina (which they did 31-7). Von later clarified: "Never got the date, but did develop a friendship with the greatest family in college sports! God Bless the Pavias!"

Romantic rumors? They've swirled, but evidence points to Pavia being unattached. In a December 2025 Athlon Sports report, sources close to the program confirmed: "Off the field, Pavia appears to be single. There's no public sign he is dating anyone, and he seems to value privacy when it comes to relationships." This aligns with his low-key social media presence his Instagram (@diego10pavia) features mostly football highlights, teammates, and faith-inspired posts, with zero hints of a partner.

Flash back to 2024: On a podcast appearance, Pavia dropped a candid bombshell about his breakout form. When asked if a girlfriend breakup fueled his fire, he laughed and clarified: "Crazy story is, I broke up with my girlfriend before the season." He even credited an ex's doubting comments as motivation, turning heartbreak into on-field dominance during Vanderbilt's upset wins over Alabama and others. By mid-2025, during SEC Media Days, Pavia joked to reporters about confiding in coach Clark Lea: "I was telling him my girlfriend problems the other day, actually..." a quip that sparked speculation but likely referenced past issues, not current ones.

Post-Heisman buzz amplified the chatter. After finishing second (1,435 points to Mendoza's tally), Pavia partied in NYC, where videos showed him with friends and women in clubs. One clip fueled rumors of him alongside an Instagram model, but nothing substantiated a relationship just a young athlete blowing off steam after a grueling season. A viral plea to singer Tate McRae ("Help Von get a date with my mom if he helps introduce me to you") was pure fun, not serious pursuit.

Pavia's priorities shine through in interviews. On The Pivot podcast, he opened up about faith: "This is what I needed... a relationship with God." He praised tight end Eli Stowers for leading campus worship and credited divine guidance for his path. "Christ is real," Pavia said, reflecting on teammates' influence. Family remains central his mom and siblings travel to nearly every game, and he often shouts them out. NIL deals (estimated $2.5 million valuation) and draft prep for 2026 loom large, leaving little room for public romance.

In an era of oversharing athletes, Pavia stands out as private. No confirmed girlfriend, no scandals just a focused competitor with a tight circle. As he preps for Vanderbilt's bowl game and a likely NFL future (PFF ranks him a top-15 QB prospect), fans speculate, but Pavia keeps it simple: football, faith, family. If love enters the picture, he'll likely let actions speak like he does on Saturdays.