Diego Pavia Delivers Profane Instagram Message to Heisman Voters After Runner-Up Finish
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia did not take kindly to his second-place finish in the 2025 Heisman Memorial Trophy voting, delivering a blunt and profane message to the selection committee shortly after the ceremony on Saturday night. Pavia, who was the first Heisman finalist in Vanderbilt history, took to his personal Instagram story to express his frustration after Fernando Mendoza of Indiana was announced as the winner.
The message, which was overlayed on a reposted picture of himself with teammates, was direct and unambiguous, stating, “F- all the voters 👎 But….Family for life.”
Pavia’s outburst comes after a highly decorated individual season where he led the Commodores to a historic ten-win regular season and finished atop the Southeastern Conference in total yards from scrimmage with 4,018 yards and 36 combined touchdowns. Despite his strong campaign and receiving 189 first-place votes, his total points were significantly behind the winner, Mendoza, who led the Indiana Hoosiers to a perfect 13-0 record and the top seed in the College Football Playoff.
The public reaction to Pavia’s social media post has been mixed, with some fans appreciating his unfiltered confidence and others criticizing the lack of diplomacy after a ceremony that is meant to honor the best of college football. Pavia has long been known for his brash, confident approach both on and off the field. The quarterback, who is out of eligibility, finished a notable collegiate career and is currently preparing for the NFL Draft process, though he has committed to playing one final collegiate game for Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa on New Year’s Eve.
