Diego Pavia had a message for all the Heisman Trophy voters Saturday night after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the first Hoosier to win college football’s most prestigious award since its inception in 1935.
“F-all the voters,” the Vanderbilt quarterback posted on his Instagram story. “But … family for life.”
Vanderbilt Diego Pavia had a message for Heisman Trophy voters Saturday, which he posted on Instagram account. (@Diego10Pavia/Instagram)Mark Heim
Mendoza claimed 2,362 points, including 643 first-place votes. He beat Pavia (1,435 points), Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (719 points) and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (432 points).
Pavia finished second with 189 first-place votes. He threw for a school-record 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Commodores, who were pushing for a CFP berth all the way to the bracket announcement. He is the first Heisman finalist in Vanderbilt history.
Pavia led Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season along with six wins against Southeastern Conference foes. That includes four wins over ranked programs as Vandy reached No. 9, its highest ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 since 1937.
Pavia went from being unrecruited out of high school to junior college, New Mexico State and finally Vanderbilt in 2024 through the transfer portal.
Vandy next plays in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa on Dec. 31.
Mendoza finished first in all six Heisman regions, the first to do so since Caleb Williams in 2022. He was named on 95.16% of all ballots, tying him with Marcus Mariota in 2014 for the second highest in the award’s history and he received 84.6% of total possible points, which is the seventh highest in Heisman history.
Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 ranking and the top seed in the 12-team College Football bracket, throwing for 2,980 yards and a national-best 33 touchdown passes while also running for six scores. Indiana, the last unbeaten team in major college football, will play a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.