Pat McAfee addresses Diego Pavia's Heisman weekend antics, pro future

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s unfortunate Heisman Trophy weekend continues to reverberate across the college football world. Pat McAfee weighed in Monday. Both on the backlash surrounding Pavia’s behavior and the questions it has raised about his professional future.

Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, the ESPN pundit said Pavia experienced one of the most dramatic public perception shifts he’s seen in recent memory. All after finishing as the runner-up for the 2025 Heisman Trophy.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anybody have a bigger heel-turn in one weekend than Diego Pavia,” McAfee stated. “Anybody who’s flashy and talks a lot of shit is going to be hated by a group of people regardless. But then this weekend, with how it all went, I think a lot of people kind of turned on Diego Pavia.”

Pavia drew criticism after making disrespectful comments toward Indiana and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. He also blasted the Heisman voting process. The situation escalated further when videos and posts from his Heisman weekend circulated online. That prompted widespread scrutiny and debate about his maturity.

McAfee noted that some fans have already begun applying the same draft-related skepticism to Pavia that surrounded Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders last offseason. However, he made it clear they couldn’t be more different as prospects, on the field, at least.

“I saw a lot of people saying, ‘Let’s make sure we keep this energy that we had for Shedeur Sanders doing in the Draft that we have for Diego Pavia,’” McAfee added. “I don’t think anybody’s really talking about Diego Pavia being in the NFL, period.”

More on Diego Pavia, Heisman backlash

While acknowledging Pavia’s toughness and competitiveness, McAfee questioned where the Vanderbilt star realistically fits at the next level. He cited concerns about his size and positional projection.

“Maybe they move him out to slot wide receiver or something like that,” McAfee questioned. “… He’s a hell of a ball player. A dawg. He’s rubbed people the wrong way.”

After the backlash, Pavia issued a public apology Sunday night, taking responsibility for his actions and praising Mendoza as a deserving Heisman winner. He admitted he failed to handle the disappointment of falling short of the award with grace. Pavia emphasized respect for the voters and the process.

“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” Pavia wrote. “It was a mistake, and I am sorry.”

Despite the controversy, Pavia reiterated his underdog mentality and focus on finishing the season strong with Vanderbilt. The Commodores are preparing for the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Whether the weekend becomes a lasting stain or a learning moment remains to be seen. As McAfee made clear, Pavia’s words, not his arm, are now shaping much of the conversation around his future, whatever it may end up being.