A Spiritual Revival: Inside Vanderbilt Football’s Boldness For Jesus Christ

Story by Graham Baakko

Vanderbilt tight end Cole Spence (16 catches the game-winning touchdown against Auburn in overtime at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. | Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia stood on the 46-yard line toward the north end zone of FirstBank Stadium for a postgame interview with ESPN’s Katie George following Vanderbilt’s 31-24 win over a No. 10 LSU team. When George asked Pavia the first question – a question about his performance along with the team – his answer was possibly enough to catch someone off guard. Instead of starting the interview responding about the game, Pavia’s response went straight to the heart of the team: God

“It got a little overwhelming the past few weeks, and I really wasn’t being myself. I wasn’t chasing God, so he was there to humble me,” Pavia said to ESPN. “Obviously, no one’s perfect. I just want to chase Him and encourage everyone to chase Him. That’s the better life out there.”

Before beating LSU, Vanderbilt was coming off a 30-14 loss to Alabama on the road. Despite the 16-point loss, the Commodores had opportunities to win the game, but two turnovers in the red zone proved costly in the game. Between the Alabama and the LSU game, Pavia sat down with his star tight end, Eli Stowers. Stowers, who is regarded as the spiritual mentor amongst the players and coaching staff, talked with Pavia about what his main focus was. Rather than focusing too much on football to the point where it became a part of Pavia’s identity, Stowers helped guide Vanderbilt’s star quarterback back to God.

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