Diego Pavia Displays on Heisman Loss: “I Made a Mistake”

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, apologized Sunday for “being disrespectful” in a social media publish he made after Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza gained the award for school soccer’s finest participant.

“F-All THE VOTERS,” Pavia wrote Saturday night time on his Instagram story with a thumbs-down emoji, “BUT…..FAMILY FOR LIFE.”

The caption accompanied a photograph of Pavia together with his offensive linemen on the ceremony in New York.

Pavia confronted criticism for his response, and on Sunday he posted an announcement saying he did not deal with his feelings properly after shedding.

Being part of the Heisman ceremony final night time as a finalist was such an honor. As a competitor, similar to in all the things I do I needed to win. To be so near my dream and are available up quick was painful. I did not deal with these feelings properly in any respect and didn’t characterize myself the…

— Diego Pavia (@diegopavia02) December 15, 2025

“Being part of the Heisman ceremony final night time as a finalist was such an honor. As a competitor, similar to in all the things I do I needed to win,” Pavia wrote on X. “To be so near my dream and are available up quick was painful. I did not deal with these feelings properly in any respect and didn’t characterize myself the way in which I needed to.

“I’ve a lot love and respect for the Heisman voters and the choice course of, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I’m sorry.”

Pavia struck the Heisman pose a number of instances this season whereas throwing for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He additionally rushed for 826 yards and added 9 extra scores on the bottom whereas main Vanderbilt to a 10-2 report.

Mendoza grew to become Indiana’s first Heisman winner, main the Hoosiers to their first No. 1 rating and the highest seed within the Faculty Soccer Playoff bracket. He threw for two,980 yards and an FBS-leading 33 touchdowns whereas operating for six extra.

Mendoza totaled 2,362 factors and 643 first-place votes, and Pavia was second with 1,435 factors and 189 first-place votes.

“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award. I’ve nothing however respect for his accomplishments in addition to the success that Jeremiyah and Julian had this season,” Pavia, a switch from New Mexico State, wrote. “I have been doubted my complete life. Each step of my journey I’ve needed to break down doorways and battle for myself, as a result of I’ve realized that nothing could be handed to me.

“My household has all the time been in my nook, and my teammates, coaches and employees have my six. I really like them — I’m grateful for them — and I would not need something to distract from that. I stay up for competing in entrance of my household and with my group yet one more time within the ReliaQuest Bowl.”

No. 14 Vanderbilt faces No. 23 Iowa on Dec. 31 in Tampa, Florida (midday ET, ESPN).