Diego Pavia Reacts to Heisman Snub, Apologizes After Heated Weekend
On Saturday night, Fernando Mendoza capped off a dream season by winning the Heisman Trophy, becoming the face of an undefeated Indiana squad that now heads into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed. It was a moment that will go down in Hoosiers history-and one that left another finalist, Diego Pavia, feeling the sting of falling just short.
Pavia, the electric Vanderbilt quarterback who’s been at the heart of the Commodores’ stunning turnaround over the past two seasons, didn’t hide his frustration. Shortly after the ceremony, he posted a photo with teammates and a not-so-subtle message aimed squarely at the Heisman voters: “F- all the voters.”
Later that night, Pavia was seen celebrating his season at a party, this time holding a sign that read “F- Indiana,” a clear reference to Mendoza and the program that edged him out for college football’s most prestigious individual honor.
The reaction was swift. Social media lit up with criticism, and Pavia found himself at the center of a firestorm-not for his play on the field, but for how he handled the moment off it.
By Sunday night, Pavia had seen enough of the backlash and issued a public apology. In a statement posted on social media, he acknowledged the honor of being a Heisman finalist and admitted he let his emotions get the best of him.
“Being a part of the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist was such an honor,” Pavia wrote. “As a competitor, just like in everything I do, I wanted to win.
To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I should have.”
It’s a rare window into the emotional toll that comes with chasing greatness. Pavia’s passion has never been in question-he’s been the heartbeat of Vanderbilt football, leading a remarkable resurgence that’s turned the Commodores into a legitimate threat in the SEC.
His competitive fire is part of what’s made him such a compelling figure in the sport. But in this case, that fire boiled over in a way that overshadowed what should’ve been a celebration of one of college football’s best seasons.
And make no mistake-Pavia had a case. His stats, leadership, and impact on a once-struggling program earned him a seat in New York.
But when the votes were tallied, it wasn’t particularly close. Mendoza secured 2,362 total points to Pavia’s 1,435, a clear margin that reflected the voters’ confidence in the Indiana quarterback’s season-long dominance.
Still, Pavia’s legacy is far from defined by this one weekend. He’s been one of the sport’s most dynamic quarterbacks over the past two years, and his story is far from finished. Before he turns the page to the NFL, he’ll get one more shot to suit up for Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl-a final chance to show the college football world what he’s made of.
And if history is any indicator, he’ll show up with something to prove.