Ty Simpson knows all eyes will be on Alabama football and Vanderbilt Saturday, Oct. 4 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. But he also knows a certain set of eyes will be on Vanderbilt 's quarterback.
Since Alabama's 40-35 road loss to Vanderbilt in 2024, Diego Pavia has taken the college football world by storm.
After accounting for more than 3,000 total yards and 26 total touchdowns last season, Pavia is averaging nearly 250 passing yards, nearly 60 rushing yards and three touchdowns per game in 2025, leading the Commodores to a 5-0 record and a No. 17 ranking heading into their meeting with No. 11 Alabama .
Simpson said he's never met Pavia, but has "a ton of respect for him."
"He's a dog," Simpson said. "Plays with a chip on his shoulder as well. Watching him and their highlights of the season, man, seeing last year, know he gets a ton of respect from Johnny Manziel ."
Manziel will be in Tuscaloosa to watch Pavia in person, telling Shannon Sharpe and Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson on their "Nightcap" podcast that he will be on the Vanderbilt sideline in a Pavia jersey.
"In the past, you walk in, face an Alabama team, you've probably got a little fear," Manziel said. "This is 'Bama, the team that's been a dynasty. You've got a little fear. That fear aspect of what Alabama is is completely gone. And nobody's scared of them boys. Not Vandy, not Kentucky , not nobody."
Simpson, who grew up watching Manziel, knows the former Texas A&M quarterback will be on the sideline. Simpson said comedian Theo Von "came through here," referencing Von's ties with Pavia.
But Simpson is not focusing on the attention Pavia or Alabama-Vanderbilt is getting.
"Those guys at Vanderbilt, on offense, they do a really good job," Simpson said. "We need to do a good job this week of just being on our P's and Q's, right, and understanding all the versatile stuff that those guys do. And just be us."
Alabama kicks off against Vanderbilt at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ty Simpson talks Johnny Manziel attending Alabama vs Vanderbilt for Diego Pavia
