Why Diego Pavia is NOT a Heisman Candidate

By: Matt Brunelli

As a known Tennessee fan, I can understand why this article could be perceived as biased, but to make it as unbiased as possible, I will only speak on stats and the level of competition those stats came against.

First, let’s look at Diego Pavia’s totals through the first 11 weeks of the 2025 college football season:

Overall (11 games)

•  2,924 passing yards

•  71.8% completion rate

•  26 passing touchdowns

•  6 INT

•  17 sacks

•  86.9 QBR

•  132 rushing attempts

•  661 rushing yards

•  5.0 yards per carry

•  8 rushing touchdowns

•  3 fumbles

Those are good numbers — not great, and definitely not typical Heisman-level numbers most seasons — but with the overall lack of standout statistical seasons across college football in 2025, they do put Pavia in the Heisman conversation.

Now let’s break those stats down by SEC vs. non-SEC opponents. In 2025, the SEC still plays an 8-game conference schedule (moving to 9 games in 2026). Pavia has faced 4 non-SEC teams and 7 SEC teams so far.

Vs. 4 Non-SEC teams

•  1,034 passing yards

•  74.5% completion rate

•  11 passing TDs

•  2 INT

•  2 sacks

•  87.9 QBR

•  37 rushing attempts

•  270 rushing yards

•  7.3 yards per carry

•  2 rushing TDs

•  2 fumbles

That means:

•  35% of Pavia’s passing yards came against non-SEC teams

•  42% of his passing touchdowns came against non-SEC teams

•  Only 33% of his interceptions came against non-SEC teams

•  67% of his fumbles came against non-SEC teams

To break it down even further: 9 of those 11 non-conference passing touchdowns came against Charleston Southern, Georgia State, and Utah State — none of whom are considered strong FBS programs (Utah State just became bowl-eligible).

Vs. Ranked SEC teams (5 games)

(Note: Ranked at the time of the game — includes Alabama, Texas, South Carolina, LSU, and Missouri)

•  3–2 record

•  1,026 passing yards

•  63.8% completion rate

•  7 passing TDs

•  3 INT

•  11 sacks

•  74.7 QBR

•  62 rushing attempts

•  231 rushing yards

•  3.7 yards per carry

•  4 rushing TDs

•  1 fumble

That means only:

•  35% of Pavia’s total passing yards

•  27% of his passing touchdowns

•  50% of his interceptions came against currently or then-ranked SEC opponents.

When you break down the stats and compare his performance against bottom-tier teams versus higher-level competition, the picture is clear: Pavia feasts on weaker opponents. So to Vanderbilt and its fans — it’s time to stop yelling for Diego Pavia for the Heisman. When you look purely at how he has played against quality competition, he clearly does not belong in the conversation.