Diego Pavia’s visit to Boulder turned into more than a friendly stop by to see Deion Sanders and Colorado. With the Buffaloes dealing with serious quarterback questions before their Utah game, Pavia ended up giving fans a live window into the program and a few comments that landed with extra meaning.
On Twitch, Pavia said, “I do wish I could, you know, play for Coach Prime,” and the line stood out because Sanders once recruited him out of high school. Pavia said that offer mattered in his path, explaining, “I feel like when you get offered in football, more offers come,” and added, “So, in a way, I wouldn’t be here without, you know, Coach Prime’s offer. So, I came to support him, his team.”
That loyalty came through again when he talked about where things stand now. Pavia made clear there was no lingering issue after his career took him elsewhere.
He was a Heisman finalist last season, won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and led Vanderbilt to its first ever 10-win season. After going undrafted last April, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens before being released during training camp.
“There ain’t no bad blood ever,” he said. “At least that’s how I feel. You can support your friends wherever they go.”
Pavia also gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at Colorado, posting Instagram footage from the facility with the caption “big day tomorrow.” During the Twitch stream, he showed off the football facility, indoor practice area and weight room, and promoted the visit on Instagram with a Story that read “streaming live at Prime's house."
He didn’t stop at sightseeing. Pavia also offered a few thoughts on the matchup with Utah.
He said he had not watched much film on the Utes yet, but he expected Colorado quarterback Isaac Wilson to have a strong night against his former team. After meeting Wilson, Pavia called him “super locked in” and said he reminded him of himself before game day.
Pavia also backed Colorado when questions came up about how important the game is. Asked whether Utah was a must-win, he replied, “I don’t disagree, but we just have to make the Big 12 championship.
And, you know, we’ll get there.” He also said Colorado should have beaten Texas Tech and called a 14½-point spread against the Buffaloes “disrespectful.”
Pavia said he wanted to see Colorado win comfortably against Utah.
The Utes are trying to move to 6-0, while Colorado is looking for its first Big 12 win of the season. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m.
MT (10:15 p.m. ET) and the game will be shown nationally on ESPN.
In Other News...
Buffs Let A Stronger Start Slip Away At Stanford
Colorado got the kind of opening round that leaves plenty of room to climb, but not much room for error, at the Stanford Intercollegiate. After day one at the Stanford Golf Course, the Buffaloes sat in 14th place at 15-over-par, a spot that reflected more missed chances than disaster in a field where Stanford surged to the top at 13-under.
Maya McVey provided the steadiest footing for Colorado, carding a 1-over 72 to lead the Buffaloes individually. With the tournament just getting started, the challenge now is whether the rest of the lineup can turn a shaky opener into something more competitive as the rounds continue. [Read more 🡒]
Buffs Are One Win From A Breakthrough With NCAA Stakes
Colorados womens tennis program has a chance to turn a strong regional run into something bigger at the ITA Mountain Regional Championships. Lera Alexin and Ema Bubalo have pushed all the way to the doubles final after moving through both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, giving the Buffaloes a shot at a regional title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Individual Championships.
Heidi Crncans singles run ended in the round of 16 against Utahs Sara Akid, leaving the doubles pairing as Colorados last chance to leave the tournament with a major breakthrough. Alexin and Bubalo now wait for their Saturday opponent, with the championship match set to determine whether the Buffs can cap the event with an NCAA-clinching win. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Utah Twist That Could Complicate Saturday
Saturdays matchup brings a familiar face to Colorados sideline opponent, and a potentially tricky one at that. Morgan Scalley is in his first season leading Utah after a long run as the programs defensive coordinator, and the No. 11 Utes have opened 5-0 with a defense that has again looked like one of the nations best. For Colorado, the wrinkle is less about the ranking and more about the familiarity, because Scalley has spent years inside a system built on knowing exactly what it wants to take away.
There is also the quarterback angle, which only adds to the subplot around this trip. Scalley knows Isaac Wilson well from their time together at Utah, and that kind of shared history gives the Utes a built-in understanding of the strengths and weaknesses Colorado may be trying to lean on. When a defense already has the reputation Utah does, that sort of inside knowledge can make an already difficult Saturday feel even more complicated for the Buffaloes. [Read more 🡒]