Diego Pavia slams voters on social media after losing Heisman race

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia blasted the Heisman voters on Instagram after losing the race to Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza on Saturday.

After Mendoza was named the winner of the 2025 Heisman Trophy, Pavia reposted a picture from comedian Theo Von onto his story while writing “F all the voters” below.

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The final vote was not exactly close, with Mendoza receiving 643 first-place votes while Pavia received 189. Notre Dame runningback Jeremiyah Love finished in third with 46 first-place votes while Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin received eight.

Regardless of Saturday’s winner, Pavia had a spectacular season. He threw for 3,192 yards and scored 36 total touchdowns while leading Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season in program history.

While Pavia played like a future pro this season, he’s likely to face serious backlash for how he responded to voters on Saturday.

James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker

About the Author Published Dec 14, 2025

JAMES PARKER

James Parker is a sports reporter and writer for Ball Exclusives. With a bachelor's degree earned at the age of 19, he’s spent years working as a sports journalist, including an award-winning stint at The Appalachian. He has never used AI for his work in any way, shape or form.