Granted a sixth season of college eligibility, quarterback Diego Pavia plans on using it to continue Vanderbilt's ascension up the Southeastern Conference ranks.

Pavia will get his initial chance to improve on the Commodores' first winning season in 11 years when they play host to Charleston Southern in a nonconference season opener for both teams Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

Pavia led Vanderbilt to a 7-6 record in 2024 that included a 35-27 victory over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl. There also was a 40-35 victory over then-No. 1 Alabama in October and a national ranking for the first time since 2013, when the program went 9-4.

"When it comes down to it, every win was important," Pavia said of the 2024 season. "And I think (Alabama) was (big) because we finally got people to believe kind of in Vanderbilt football. So from here on out, obviously we've got to win more games to get the things done that we want. Winning solves everything."

Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers will lead the offense. Pavia passed for 2,293 yards with 20 touchdowns and four interceptions while also rushing for a team-best 801 yards and eight scores.

Stowers caught 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns.

An upgraded offensive line will be put to the test, while an improvement on defense is needed after the Commodores were 14th in the SEC yards allowed last season (376.5 per game) and 13th in points allowed (23.4).

Charleston Southern, an FCS team, has gone 0-24 against FBS teams since 2002. Vanderbilt escaped with a 21-20 victory in the only meeting between the programs in 2014.

The Buccaneers went just 1-11 last season and were last in the OVC-Big South Football Association with 268.0 yards of offense per game, as well as with 14.3 points. The defense was better, ranking fifth with 353.7 yards allowed per game and 26.8 points.

Sophomore quarterback Zolten Osborne took most of the reps with the first-team offense in the spring and enters the season after just one game of experience last season. Tyson Greenwade returns after he was second on the team last season with 467 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Charleston Southern was picked to finish last in the conference, and head coach Gabe Giardina will use the outlook as a motivator.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't going to put a little gas in the guys' tank every once in a while. Sure, let's get fired up. Let's go prove somebody wrong," said Giardina, who went 5-18 in his first two seasons as head coach of the program.

"But if that is our sole motivation, that, in my mind, is pretty shallow."

--Field Level Media

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