The most unexpected power couple in college football took center stage at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday night, as comedian Theo Von joined the mother of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia for Senior Night festivities.
In a moment that quickly circulated across social media, Von was spotted walking arm-in-arm with Antoinette Padilla, Pavia’s mother, during the pregame ceremony honoring graduating players. The pairing adds another chapter to a running internet gag that began earlier this season when Von, a frequent sideline presence at Commodores games, joked about a “bet” with the quarterback involving a date with his mother.
The scene unfolded before Vanderbilt’s emphatic 45-17 victory over Kentucky, a game in which Pavia delivered a record-setting performance to cap his home career.
The Viral Moment:
Video captured by fans and media showed Von and Padilla walking onto the field together, with Padilla at one point putting her arm around the comedian. The duo greeted Pavia near the end zone, sharing hugs and words of encouragement before kickoff.
Social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram lit up with reactions, with many fans referencing Von’s previous comments about wanting to “marry a nurse” (Padilla’s profession) and joking about him becoming the quarterback’s “stepdad.”
“Senior Day romance at Vandy?!” one user posted, sharing footage of the interaction.
Context of the “Relationship”
The connection between the comedian and the quarterback’s family stems from Vanderbilt’s upset win over South Carolina earlier this season. During that broadcast, Von told sideline reporters that Pavia had promised him a date with his mother if the Commodores won.
“I like being his friend, I don’t want to end up being like his stepdad or something,” Von joked at the time. Since then, the bit has become a staple of Vanderbilt’s surprising 9-2 season, with Von becoming an unofficial mascot for the program’s resurgence.
A Night of Celebration:
QB Diego Pavia’s Mother was ALL OVER comedian Theo Von during Vanderbilt Senior Night. 😭 pic.twitter.com/IR8nJnl3F8
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) November 23, 2025
The pregame viral moment was merely the prelude to a historic night for Pavia. The graduate transfer accounted for 517 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, leading Vanderbilt to its first nine-win regular season since 1915.
During the fourth quarter, ESPN cameras caught Padilla in the stands striking the Heisman Trophy pose, mirroring her son’s celebration on the field—a fitting end to a night where the Pavia family, and their unexpected celebrity guest, were the undisputed stars of Nashville.
