Diego Pavia Responds To Heisman Trophy Question

In terms of how exciting he is to watch, there aren't many players who can match Diego Pavia. But the numbers really don't do him many favors as far as potential voting goes:

Looking at the Stats

Even in victory over Missouri, Pavia didn't exactly light up the scoreboard. He completed just 10 of 19 passes for 129 yards and an interception while adding 20 yards and the game-winning touchdown on the ground. He's had only two games with multiple passing TDs this season and has contributed a grand total of 20 touchdowns through the air and ground through eight games. Those numbers are good enough to win games thanks to Vanderbilt's solid defense, but might not wow the Heisman Trophy voters.

Fans on social media certainly aren't buying much Heisman Trophy stock in Pavia right now:

"He was out played by a true freshman…" one user remarked on X.

"He should not win the Heisman. It shouldn’t be a popularity contest award," another pointed out.

"He threw for 129 yards with a pick and added 20 yards on the ground. The media has to stop with this Pavia (expletive). They are really, really good defensively. That’s the story," a third wrote.

"After he watches the game film he might not think that. The heisman goes to the best player in college football. And that is NOT him!!!"

Right now the Heisman Trophy race feels like a race between the best QBs of the top five or so QBs in the country: Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Texas A&M's Marcel Reed and Alabama's Ty Simpson are the players getting the most buzz right now.

If Pavia's Commodores were still unbeaten with a win over Alabama under their belt and he had an incredible part of that win, maybe he'd be in the conversation. But as it stands, he seems like a bit of a long shot.

With four games left to play, it's hard to envision Pavia lighting up the scoreboard so much that he poses next to the Heisman with the other contenders.