Diego Pavia blasts Heisman voters after losing to Fernando Mendoza

While Fernando Mendoza is basking in Heisman Trophy victory as the Indiana Hoosiers prepare for the College Football Playoff run, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, a Heisman finalist, is unhappy with what voters got Saturday night.

Pavia, the Commodores’ senior signal caller, was outspoken about how he felt about Mendoza’s win in New York City.

Pavia offered his thoughts on the voters while sharing a photo on Instagram Stories with several of his Commodores teammates.

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“F-All voters.” he wrote with thumbs down emoji. “But…family for life.”

The 23-year-old from Pavia came in second place, although he was a distance away after receiving 189 first-place votes to Mendoza’s 643 votes.

INDIANA’S FERNANDO MENDOZA WON THE 2025 HEISMAN Trophy

On Sunday night, Pavia issued an apology to X.

“It was a great honor to be a finalist in the Heisman ceremony last night. As a contender, as with everything I do, I wanted to win,” he wrote. “It was painful to be so close to my dreams and to fail. I did not handle those feelings well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to. I have a lot of love and respect for Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry.”

“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner. I respect his accomplishments, as well as the success Jeremiyah and Julian have had this season. I have been viewed with skepticism my entire life.

“Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because I’ve learned that nothing will be given to me. My family has always been in my corner, and I have six of my teammates, coaches and staff. I love them – I’m grateful to them – and I don’t want anything to distract from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team once again at the ReliaQuest Bowl.”

Mendoza managed to remain undefeated by leading the Hoosiers to a Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State, making them the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.

But detractors of Mendoza pointed out that he passed for just 2,980 yards but a Big Ten-leading 33 touchdowns with just six interceptions in 13 games. Mendoza also scored six field goals in 69 attempts.

Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander (28) celebrates with quarterback Diego Pavia (2) after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Meanwhile, Pavia, playing in his second season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 yards passing and nine rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.

Pavia’s reaction to the voting results is hardly surprising, as he has always been confident enough to keep telling voters to send him to New York because he thinks he deserves the Heisman.

Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy prior to the 2025 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on December 13, 2025. (Man Hunger/Getty Images)

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“The winner of the Heisman Trophy goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said. OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I believe in controlling the numbers to be who I am, and there are two things in particular that don’t lie to you: The numbers and the tape. Ever since I was little, I was taught that you have to go and control it. I feel like I’m without a doubt the best player in college football.”

Vanderbilt posted a 10-2 record on the year, ranking 14th in the nation at the end of the season.

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