Week 6 Heisman Hype: Why can't Diego Pavia stiff arm his way to the Stiff Arm?

It's Vandy week at Bama and there's a larger narrative in college football: There are few great teams but a lot of pretty good teams. The "P" -- parity -- is making the game fun as hell this season.

Four years ago when he arrived, Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea had the audacity to declare he was going to build the best program in the country.

Vandy isn’t that. Not yet. But it is 5-0 for the first time since 2008 (and the second time ever). The last 5-0 was accomplished 17 years and James Franklin ago.

All of it seems more important, more impressive after a 55-25 win over Utah State on Saturday. Diego Pavia threw for a career-high 321 yards and accounted for a school-record six touchdowns.

More than that, Pavia positioned himself as a Heisman candidate heading into this week’s Alabama game. After Alabama’s win over Georgia, the game qualifies as possibility the biggest in Vandy history.

Revenge! Drama! Diego! DeBoer!

It’s one thing upsetting Bama last year and then going on to win a mere seven games. A win this week would be much different. Vandy would be a top 10 team. Squint and you can even see the Commodores as a realistic SEC contender.

“Same exact vibes,” Pavia said of Alabama game at the podium Saturday night. “Same exact hair cut.”

Which is something close to a buzz cut for the quarterback who continues to create buzz.