Diego Pavia makes his case to win 2025 Heisman Trophy

The votes have been cast, with the results to be revealed at tomorrow night’s ceremony as to who will win the Heisman Trophy. But Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia is still campaigning regardless as to why he should be the one who wins college football’s most prestigious award tomorrow night in New York City.

Appearing live on ‘First Take’ on Friday ahead of the ceremony on Saturday night, Pavia was asked to make his case as to why he should win the Heisman Trophy. He said, beyond what he himself did statistically, that he wants to win it as a team achievement for the Commodores.

“Well, I think I’ve, you know, explained this quite a lot, but you guys see it. 4,000 yards – the only one in the FBS,” Pavia said on the show. “But, I think it’s a team award, you know. The offensive line deserves it. You know, we got, in my head, the Joe Moore Award winners. And then, obviously, we’ve got the best tight end in football. But, it’s like a team effort, you know, and so I feel like, you know, I want it more for the team than I do want it for myself. The O-line is coming out to support me, so I want them, you know, to take home the trophy with me.”

The numbers, as well as the impact, speak for themselves when it comes to Pavia. After his first season at Vandy, Pavia took it to another level this fall. He posted some career-bests and program records with 71.2% completion for 3,192 passing yards, averaging 266 per game, with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

In addition to those numbers, Pavia also rushed for 826 yards, averaging 68.8 per game, with nine more scores. That has him second in the nation in total offense per game at 334.8 yards and third in total yardage overall with 4,018, as well as finishing with 36 touchdowns overall as compared to 10 turnovers.

Pavia, a selection as First Team All-SEC, along with being a winner so far as SEC Offensive Player of the Year and of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, did it all for the ‘Dores. He powered not only a Top 10 offense for Vanderbilt, which put up 39.4 points and 468.5 yards per game, but also changed the overall culture of the program for the Commodores.

There are some quality finalists this year, with Pavia set to sit next to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love on Saturday night in NYC. But, confident as ever, Pavia wants to win. Not just for himself, but for all of those back in Nashville.

“Obviously, you know, I want to win the Heisman. All of us do. The top four are very good players,” Pavia said. “So, you know, I’m excited about tomorrow.”