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One of the predicted upsets of Week 3 in college football was Vanderbilt knocking off No. 11 South Carolina. And sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.
The Commodores didn’t just win — they dominated. Behind a steady and confident performance from quarterback Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt rolled into Columbia and stunned the Gamecocks with a 31-7 victory. For a program that has long been considered an SEC afterthought, the win signaled that this team may be capable of much more than anyone anticipated heading into the season.
Pavia, who has quickly become the face of the Commodores’ offense, finished 18-of-25 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. His confidence shows both on and off the field, and that personality came out in a bet he reportedly made with comedian Theo Von before kickoff.
During the SEC Network broadcast, with Vanderbilt leading 21-7 late in the third quarter, Von revealed to sideline reporter Cole Cubelic that Pavia had told him if the Commodores pulled the upset, Von would get to take Pavia’s mom out on a date.
“She’s a nurse. My goal is I’ve always wanted to marry a nurse one day,” Von joked. “I don’t even know if I would do it. I like being his friend, I don’t want to be his stepdad.”
At the South Carolina-Vanderbilt game,Theo Von tells @colecubelic if Vandy wins, he'll get to go on a date with Diego Pavia's mom 😂
Although he says he's not sure if he'd go through with it.
"I like being his friend I don't want to be his step dad."
Von, who has been spending more time in Nashville after buying the former home of ex-Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason back in 2020, has found his way into Commodores culture in his own unique fashion. He was even shown this past week at Vanderbilt's practice.
Whether the bet ever gets cashed in remains to be seen, but it added to the night’s lore and gave Vanderbilt a viral moment to go with a historic victory.
The bigger story, of course, is what Vanderbilt has done through three weeks. The Commodores are now 3-0 after opening the year with a 45-3 thrashing of Charleston Southern and a 44-20 road win at Virginia Tech. Saturday’s 31-7 rout of South Carolina made it three straight wins by at least 20 points, something the program hadn’t accomplished since 1930, according to ESPN’s Brandon Zimmerman.
For Vanderbilt, this start is uncharted territory in the modern era. Pavia has brought swagger and consistency at quarterback, the defense has played disciplined and physical football, and suddenly the Commodores aren’t just sneaking up on teams — they’re making statements. If the first three games are any indication, this could be one of the most surprising storylines of the 2025 college football season.
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