Diego Pavia’s Heisman journey didn’t end with the trophy in his hands-or the grace many hoped to see from a finalist. After finishing second to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the Vanderbilt quarterback made headlines for all the wrong reasons, not because of his play on the field, but because of what he posted off it.
Shortly after the ceremony, Pavia took to Instagram with a profanity-laced message aimed squarely at the Heisman voters: “F-all the voters,” he wrote in a now-deleted Instagram Story. The post quickly went viral, drawing backlash from fans and media alike.
Later that same day, Pavia issued an apology, calling his post “disrespectful.” But by then, the moment had already taken on a life of its own.
Among the many who took issue with Pavia’s outburst was Heisman voter and columnist Chase Goodbread, who didn’t hold back in his response. In a pointed piece, Goodbread addressed Pavia directly and criticized what he saw as a lack of maturity and sportsmanship from the 23-year-old quarterback.
“For the first time, I cast a Heisman Trophy ballot last week,” Goodbread wrote, “and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia didn’t like it.” He went on to describe Pavia’s reaction as “classless,” calling it a “punk move” that disrespected the process and the 644 voters who participated in the selection.
It’s worth noting that Pavia wasn’t exactly an afterthought in the race. He earned 189 first-place votes himself and capped off a stellar sixth season at Vanderbilt, leading the Commodores to a second straight bowl appearance and boosting his NFL draft stock in the process. On the field, his performance was everything you’d want from a Heisman contender-dynamic, consistent, and often electric.
But the Heisman isn’t just about stats and highlight reels. It’s also about character, about how a player represents himself and the game when the spotlight is brightest. And in that moment, Pavia’s reaction raised questions about his readiness for the next stage-not just as a quarterback, but as a professional.
Goodbread didn’t mince words when summing up his thoughts: “He’s a big boy now. Old enough to have more than one college degree.
Old enough to beat the NCAA in court to gain extra eligibility. Old enough to make the pile of NIL money that came with that.
Old enough to know better. And old enough to handle some criticism.”
That’s the reality of life at the top. When you're in the Heisman conversation, you're not just being evaluated for your arm strength or your win-loss record-you’re being watched for how you carry yourself when things don’t go your way. And in this case, Pavia’s response didn’t match the poise he showed under pressure all season long.
This wasn’t the ending Pavia envisioned-not for his season, and certainly not for his college career. But how he responds from here will say more about him than any Instagram post ever could. Because talent might get you to the stage, but character is what keeps you there.