If Cig had let Mendoza run up the score against the likes of Illinois, UCLA, etc it wouldnt even be a debate

Vanderbilts whole team was designed to get Pavia the heisman and nothing else. They beat nobody, and I cant imagine its a very attractive destination for skill players with how little they got utilized. Pavia had as many carries as their RB1 + RB2 + RB3 combined. 

Pavia is a dawg and I love his game, but Mendoza is the better QB.

Certainly don't love Pavia over Mendoza but awesome to see that we lead all teams with 6 All Americans. They selected Aidan Fisher and Louis Moore as first team all Americans and Mendoza, Smith, Daley, and Ponds as second team.

Mendoza is going to walk away with the individual award that matters. 

Posted by: @hoosiernation1887

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Certainly don't love Pavia over Mendoza but awesome to see that we lead all teams with 6 All Americans. They selected Aidan Fisher and Louis Moore as first team all Americans and Mendoza, Smith, Daley, and Ponds as second team.

I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist where $$ is involved. I think Pavia's sole hope rests with him being in the SEC and the southern writers buoyed by ESPN push/conspire for him to get the award. Fernando has had several Heisman moments and has the charisma that often helps, and IU's had a much better season. I'll be dumbfounded if it's not his name that is called. Hope so for him and our program. I don't know when I last watched a Heisman award show, but I'll be watching Saturday night!

@kkott 

if it isn't it will further render the award useless 

I was scoffed at a few days ago it seemed when I posted my fear that Mendoza would have to share votes with Sayin and Love - while the Finebaum the-south-will-rise-again SEC tribe would unite behind Pavia. And try to get 'their' school that also never won a Heisman.

I only watched Pavia pay a couple games. I thought he played like an improved Sorsby. How do you judge something like that? Fernando is a great QB. Pavia is really good too, in different ways. Mendoza will be the better pro. But that's not the award.

I don't have access  to this but the New York Times - not exactly the bastian of sourthern pride - article blurb says their 'straw poll' has it close between Mendoza and Pavia. If anyone has access and could tell us what it says?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6873495/2025/12/09/heisman-trophy-voting-fernando-mendoza-diego-pavia/

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BTW - BS! On CBS not picking Mendoza. 😦  

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I think Pavia is the more exciting player, kind of in the vein of Manziel.  He might even be the "most outstanding" college player this year.

If Vandy had 1 more loss on their resume I don't think it would be close.  Like how ARE would have run away with the Heisman if the Hoosiers had finished 10-1 in 2001.  5-6 wasn't going to make it happen.

So, I think it might be close but I think the Heisman voters will go with the guy that did something that was otherwise unthinkable.  Similarly, I think if the roles were reversed & Vandy had won the SEC and didn't make the B1G championship game, then it would easily go to Pavia.

I read somewhere today that Mendoza has a 98% chance of winning the award. I think he’s got it wrapped up. 

Posted by: @tmft

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I think Pavia is the more exciting player, kind of in the vein of Manziel.  He might even be the "most outstanding" college player this year.

If Vandy had 1 more loss on their resume I don't think it would be close.  Like how ARE would have run away with the Heisman if the Hoosiers had finished 10-1 in 2001.  5-6 wasn't going to make it happen.

So, I think it might be close but I think the Heisman voters will go with the guy that did something that was otherwise unthinkable.  Similarly, I think if the roles were reversed & Vandy had won the SEC and didn't make the B1G championship game, then it would easily go to Pavia.

Agree. Pavia is outstanding and I think could play in the NFL level. His value to Vandy is unquestioned. But Mendoza was the proverbial straw that stirred the drink of the top rated and undefeated team in the country, and he’s performed at the highest level when needed the most. I think the regions always show a little favoritism toward their guy, so I expect both of these guys to get a little extra bump from the Midwest and Southeast. That said, I think Mendoza wins it by a pretty wide margin, and he is incredibly deserving.

Posted by: @tmft

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I think Pavia is the more exciting player

B1G champs, 13-0, #1 is pretty flipping exciting if you ask me.

@kelly_32 If Mendoza doesn't win...