Vanderbilt, defensive back Diego Pavia finished second in Heisman Trophy voting Indiana defenseman Fernando Mendoza.
This is, of course, a great achievement.
But Pavia obviously thought differently. After the results were announced Saturday in New York, the 23-year-old senior posted a photo of himself with his linemen on his Instagram Stories and gave it an obscene caption criticizing Heisman voters.
On Sunday evening, Pavia posted long apology on X.
“It was an honor to take part in the Heisman ceremony last night as a finalist,” he wrote. “As a competitor, as in everything I do, I wanted to win. To be so close to my dream and fail was painful. I didn't deal with those emotions at all and didn't envision myself the way I wanted.”
“I have great love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for the disrespect. It was a mistake and I'm truly sorry.”
Heisman Trophy finalists (from left): Notre Dame's Jeremiah Love, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Ohio State's Julian Sayin pose with the trophy before the awards ceremony Dec. 13 in New York.
(Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Associated Press)
Mendoza received 643 first place votes and 2,362 total points to Pavia's 189 first place votes and 1,435 points. Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love finished third in voting (46 first place, 719 points) and Ohio State quarterback. Julian Sayin was fourth (eight first places, 432 points).
Indiana (13-0) is the best team in the tournament. College Football Playoff Rankings and will play the winner of Oklahoma-Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Mendoza played a big role in the Hoosiers' success. He completed 71.5% of his passes for 2,980 yards with a national-best 33 touchdown passes and six interceptions. In addition, Mendoza rushed for 240 yards and six touchdowns.
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite athlete and a deserving recipient of the award,” Pavia wrote. “I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments and the success of Jeremiah and Julian this season.”
Pavia also put up huge numbers for Vanderbilt (10-2), which was ranked No. 14 in the final CFP rankings and will play Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31. He completed 71.2% of his passes for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions and rushed for 826 yards and nine touchdowns.
A former member of New Mexico Military Institute, Pavia played two years at New Mexico State before transferring to Vanderbilt in 2024. Ahead of the Heisman Ceremony Pavia declared himself greatest college football player of all time. However, he recently told Sports Illustrated that his confidence shouldn't be confused with arrogance.
“As an underdog paying to go to JUCO, you kind of have to be your own cheerleader.” Pavia said. “And it never left my head: 'Oh, I've arrived, I don't have to do this anymore.'
Pavia reflected on his past in an apology post.
“I've been doubted my whole life. Every step of the way I've had to break down doors and fight for myself because I realized nothing was going to be handed to me,” he wrote. “My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my top six. I love them – I'm grateful for them – and I wouldn't want anything to distract from that. I'm looking forward to competing again in front of my family and with my team in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”
