Another Heisman Trophy race is officially in the books, and this one ended with a name few had penciled in at the start of the season: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Hoosiers signal-caller took home college football’s most prestigious individual honor last Saturday night, edging out a trio of talented finalists-Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
While Mendoza’s win capped off a historic season for Indiana, it was Pavia who grabbed headlines in the aftermath-and not for the reasons you’d expect from a Heisman finalist.
Pavia, who finished as the runner-up, made waves following the ceremony with a pair of emotionally charged moments. First, he posted a blunt message on his Instagram story-“F- all the voters”-which quickly circulated across social media.
Then, at a post-ceremony party, he was seen holding a sign that read “F*** Indiana.” It was raw, unfiltered emotion from a player who clearly felt the sting of coming up short on the sport’s biggest individual stage.
Pavia later issued a public apology, acknowledging the misstep. But for some, the damage had already been done.
One of those voices was ESPN’s Rece Davis, who revealed on the latest episode of the College GameDay Podcast that Pavia’s post-ceremony behavior made him rethink his own Heisman vote.
“I don’t want to pile on Diego Pavia,” Davis said. “He apologized for his behavior, and understandably so.
I didn’t feel like he owed the voters an apology. He can say whatever he wants to them.
As a voter, I saw some people who took umbrage with that, but I did not. He could say what he wants.”
But it wasn’t just the words that stuck with Davis-it was the totality of the moment. For a player who had just been recognized as one of the best in the country, the reaction raised eyebrows.
“The one thing that his behavior, even with the apology, did for me was that it made me regret my Heisman vote,” Davis admitted. “I voted for Diego Pavia because I know what the history of Vanderbilt is. I thought he was the most dynamic player.”
And there’s no denying Pavia’s impact this season. He rewrote the Vanderbilt record books, throwing for 3,192 yards and accounting for 36 total touchdowns.
More importantly, he led the Commodores to their first-ever 10-win season-an achievement that, on its own, elevated his Heisman case. In a program long defined by SEC struggles, Pavia was the spark that changed the narrative.
Davis, a longtime Heisman voter, said he’s rarely second-guessed his ballot. But this year was different.
“I’ve voted for the Heisman for 20-something years. I’ve only regretted my vote two times,” Davis said.
“One time it was because of on-field reasons-I was unfair in my judgment toward a person. This one was different.
I regretted the vote because after Pavia’s behavior in the aftermath, I was like, ‘Man, I’m glad he didn’t win.’ I’m glad he didn’t win.”
It’s a rare moment of candor from a respected voice in college football-and a reminder that the Heisman isn’t just about stats and wins. It’s also about the legacy a player leaves behind, both on and off the field.
As for Pavia, he’ll have one more chance to suit up in a Vanderbilt uniform. The Commodores are set to face Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve, with kickoff scheduled for Noon ET on ESPN. It’ll be his final collegiate game-and a chance to close the chapter on a season that was nothing short of historic, even if it didn’t end the way he hoped.