Skip Bayless gives Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia his flowers while also taking a flamethrower to the SEC

Sports commentator Skip Bayless has offered a hot take after Diego Pavia came second in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting. Fernando Mendoza claimed this year’s Heisman Trophy on Saturday over candidates such as Pavia, Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.

Bayless lauded Pavia's achievement while highlighting Vanderbilt's growth in stature from "SEC doormat". He wrote in a post made on X:

"What an incredible achievement it is for Vanderbilt football, long viewed as the SEC doormat, to have the Heisman runner-up in 2025."

Diego Pavia came second in voting with 189 first-place votes for the Heisman Trophy, awarded at a ceremony at Lincoln Center, New York, on Saturday. The Commodores quarterback was recently named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year for his role in the team’s incredible run this fall.

After leading Vanderbilt to its first ever 10-win season, Pavia became the program’s first player to finish as a finalist for the Heisman. It is not hard to see why Bayless might expect Pavia to emerge as the Heisman Trophy winner.

Diego Pavia and Fernando Mendoza’s seasons side by side

Diego Pavia threw for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 826 yards and nine scores. He’s going into postseason play with the second-highest yards in total offense, with 334.8 yards per game.

Going by sheer influence as well, Pavia has been at the center of Vanderbilt’s rise over the past two seasons he’s spent there. Arriving in the program from the portal ahead of the 2024 campaign, the 23-year-old has defined the Clark Lea-led era so far.

However, Fernando Mendoza has been no less impressive for the Hoosiers this season. Leading the team to its first undefeated season in history is no small feat, considering having to face Ohio State for the Big Ten title.

Mendoza compiled 2,980 passing yards for 33 touchdowns, with a 71.5% pass completion rate. He also achieved a career-high 340 yards and six scores as he closed his regular-season account with 3,320 yards and 39 touchdowns.

With the Heisman bagged, Mendoza and his teammates will be focusing on the playoffs, where they’ll face the winner between Alabama and Oklahoma. The junior quarterback has not yet declared his decision about entering the draft or returning for another season at Indiana.