Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is emerging as a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy this season. And for good reason, if you're watching. The standout leader of the Commodores has powered a rise in historic fashion, giving the once-marginal program life toward a possible College Football Playoff appearance.
Pavia had 2,924 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and six interceptions through 11 games, while adding 661 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground. His overall output outpaces other top candidates such as Fernando Mendoza of Indiana and Julian Sayin of Ohio State in total yardage and versatility.
What makes Pavia’s case even stronger? He’s the engine behind the nation’s most efficient offense in yards-per-play, a standout feat at a school with limited recent success, according to CBS Sports' Chris Hummer.
"Pavia, for all intents and purposes, is Vanderbilt's offense," Hummer wrote. "He's the maestro of college football's No. 1 attack in terms of yards per play (Ohio State and Indiana rank outside the top 10). It's a system that works through Pavia. He passes with extreme accuracy, keeps teams accountable with his legs and is like an eel in the face of pressure -- he just slips away. Vanderbilt was a nice story when it won seven games last season. Pavia bucked the NCAA to return in 2025 and made the Commodores a legitimate playoff threat."
Vanderbilt’s season-defining moment came with a decisive victory over LSU Tigers, one in which Pavia spearheaded the effort and helped the program reach nine wins for the first time.
Despite all this, Pavia remains listed as only the fourth choice in some Heisman odds, which is a disconnect between perception and on-field dominance. The award isn’t just about stats; it’s about the most outstanding player in the sport.
But the question facing voters is simple. What’s more outstanding than turning a perennial bottom-dweller into a playoff contender? As Hummer put it, if you define the 2025 season by one player, it’s hard to look past Pavia.
As the regular season winds down, all eyes will be on Nashville and on whether Pavia’s stats and program transformation earn him college football’s highest honor. At the very least a trip to New York City as a finalist.
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