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A Heisman Trophy voter on Wednesday expressed regret for voting for Vanderbilt Commodores star Diego Pavia to win the prestigious award.
Rece Davis, ESPN’s broadcaster for college football and basketball, said he was glad Pavia didn’t win after the quarterback left an explicit message following the revelation that Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the trophy.
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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) throws to a receiver during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
Pavia apologized for saying “Fuck all the voters,” the message still resonated.
“There’s a lot of talk about Heisman, and I don’t want to end Diego Pavia because he apologized for his post-Heisman behavior and it’s understandable,” Davis said on the “College GameDay Podcast.” “I didn’t feel like I owed the voters an apology. He can tell them whatever he wants. As a voter, I saw some people who were offended by it, but I wasn’t. He could say whatever he wanted.
“But the one thing his behavior, even with the apology included and accepted, did for me was make me regret my Heisman vote. I voted for Diego Pavia because I know what Vanderbilt’s history is. I thought he was the most dynamic player. I’m predisposed to voting Heisman for guys who create ‘wow’ moments.”
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Vanderbilt quarterback Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia speaks during an NCAA college football press conference prior to the awards ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Muñoz Álvarez)
Davis said he was most upset by the snub toward Mendoza and that he has been a Heisman Trophy voter for the past two decades and has only regretted a vote once before because of poor judgment he made toward a person.
“This one was different. I regretted the vote because after Pavia’s behavior afterwards, I thought, ‘Man, I’m glad he didn’t win.’ I’m glad he didn’t win,” Davis added. “This is not how you should feel about a player as good as Pavia on the field.
“I’m thrilled that Mendoza won because it will represent the Heisman, but in the way I think it should be represented.”
Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes compared to 189 for Pavia.
“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and I didn’t represent myself the way I wanted to,” Pavia said in his apology. “I have a lot of love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake and I’m sorry.
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving award winner. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as Jeremiyah’s success. [Love] and julian [Sayin] had this season. “They have doubted me my whole life,” he wrote.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) warms up before their game against the Missouri Tigers at FirstBank Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025. (Steve Roberts/Image Images)
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“Every step of my journey, I had to kick down doors and fight for myself, because I learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been on my side, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them, I’m grateful for them, and I wouldn’t want anything to distract me from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team once again in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”
