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A Heisman Trophy voter expressed regret Wednesday for voting for Vanderbilt Commodores star Diego Pavia to win the prestigious award.
Rece Davis, an ESPN broadcaster for college football and college basketball, said he was glad Pavie didn’t win after the quarterback dropped an explicit message following the revelation that Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza had won the trophy.
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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) throws to a receiver during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, file)
Pavie apologized for saying “F— all the voters,” the message still resonated.
“There’s a lot of talk about Heisman, and I don’t want to end by picking on Diego Pavia because he apologized for his post-Heisman behavior and that’s understandable,” Davis said on the College GameDay Podcast. “I didn’t feel like he owed the voters an apology. He can tell them whatever he wants. As a voter, I saw people who took umbrage, but I didn’t. He could say whatever he wanted.
“But the one thing his behavior, even with the apology included and accepted, did for me was make me regret my Heisman vote. I voted for Diego Pavia because I know Vanderbilt history. I thought he was the most dynamic player. I’m predisposed to Heisman votes for guys who create ‘wow’ moments.”
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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, a Heisman Trophy finalist, speaks during an NCAA college football news conference before the awards ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Muñoz Álvarez)
Davis said he was most upset about the offense toward Mendoza and that he had voted for the Heisman Trophy for the past two decades and had only regretted one vote before because of poor judgment he made toward a person.
“This one was different. I regretted the vote because after Pavie’s behavior, I was like, ‘Man, I’m glad he didn’t win.’ I’m glad he didn’t win,” Davis added. “That’s not how you should feel about a player as big as Pavie on the pitch.
“I’m glad Mendoza won because he will represent the Heisman, but in the way I think it should be represented.”
Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.
“I did not handle these emotions well at all and I did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” Pavia said in his apology. “I have a lot of love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake and I’m sorry.
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving recipient of this award. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as Jeremiyah’s success. [Love] and Julien [Sayin] had this season. I have doubted my whole life,” he wrote.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) warms up before their game against the Missouri Tigers at FirstBank Stadium on October 25, 2025. (Steve Roberts/Imagn Images)
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“At every step of my journey, I’ve had to kick down doors and fight for myself, as I learned that nothing was going to be given to me. My family has always been on my side, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them – I’m grateful for them – and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team once again in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”
