SEC quarterback Diego Pavia recently criticized the Big Ten Conference on the ‘Bussin’ with the Boys’ podcast, arguing that teams in the SEC face a tougher schedule than those in the Big Ten, which he said includes less competitive programs like Purdue. Pavia, who plays for Vanderbilt, claimed that the SEC’s strength of schedule is superior, with teams consistently facing top-tier opponents, unlike the Big, Ten, where he said the schedule is less demanding. Despite the Big Ten’s recent national championships by Ohio State and Michigan, Pavia questioned the conference’s overall competitiveness.\n\nDuring the podcast, Pavia discussed the offers he received from other programs after his past season, including one SEC school that made an NIL offer of over $4 million. However, he decided to stay with Vanderbilt for his final college season. Pavia also acknowledged the talent within the Big Ten, specifically mentioning Penn State’s Abdul Carter, who was selected third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.\n\nPavia’s college football journey began at New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college (JUCO) school, where he played two seasons before transferring to New Mexico State. After another year of eligibility, he moved to Vanderbilt, where he had a standout season with 2,133 yards and 17 passing touchdowns, along with 716 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His outspoken comments about the Big Ten have sparked a broader conversation about conference competitiveness in college football, with some fans and analysts agreeing with his assessment, while others defend the Big Ten’s recent success.