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A Heisman Trophy voter isn’t staying silent after seeing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s post about his second-place finish this weekend behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News, who has a Heisman vote, wrote an article this week about Pavia saying “F— all the voters” after finishing far behind Mendoza. Pavie wrote it in the caption of an Instagram story post with a photo of his Commodores teammates.
While Pavia apologized for his initial response to the loss in New York, Goodbread was not impressed with what Pavia had to say.
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Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy before the 2025 Heisman Trophy presentation at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 13, 2025, in New York. (Adam Faim/Getty Images)
“He’s a big boy now,” Goodbread wrote in his column. “Old enough to have more than one college degree. Old enough to beat the NCAA in court for additional eligibility, and old enough to earn the pile of NIL money that came with it. Old enough to know better. And old enough to handle some criticism.
“It was a punk move, Diego. This voter wasn’t sitting right next to Mendoza on Saturday night, but my congratulations to him are at least sincere.”
Goodbread added that Pavia’s behavior was “jackassery”, saying: “After 6 years in college, you’d think Pavia would have signed up for at least one humility course by now.”
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Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.
Vanderbilt’s athletic director released a statement Monday after Pavie’s comment.
“Diego knows his actions were unacceptable and he has apologized,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean Monday. “I know he is contrite and regrets the harm he has caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, that does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.
“We believe in growth and responsibility, and we will continue to support Diego as he learns from this moment.”
Pavia later apologized for his comments about X.
Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
“I did not handle these emotions well at all and I did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” he wrote in a statement. “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.
“At every step of my journey, I’ve had to kick down doors and fight for myself, as I learned that nothing would be given to me. My family has always been by 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.”
Pavie, who was playing his sophomore season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2 percent passing rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 passing yards and nine rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.
Pavia’s reaction to the voting results wasn’t much of a surprise, however. He always had confidence in himself to the point that he kept telling voters to send him to New York because he felt he deserved the Heisman.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws to an open teammate against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on November 9, 2024. (Imagn)
“The Heisman Trophy winner goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I think it’s myself. You check the numbers, and most importantly — there are two things that don’t lie to you: the numbers and the tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young. Go check that out. I feel like I’m without a doubt the best player in college football.”
Vanderbilt was 10-2 this year, ranking 14th nationally at the end of the regular season.
