Hours after watching Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza claim the 2025 Heisman Trophy, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia traded the glamour of New York’s Playwrights Horizons theater for the pulsing lights of a Manhattan nightclub — and a custom sign that has ignited a firestorm of criticism.
Video circulating on social media shows the 23-year-old quarterback hoisting a gold-framed placard emblazoned with “F*CK INDIANA” in glowing green letters, grinning ear-to-ear amid a crowd of revelers. Pavia, dressed in a black turtleneck and layered gold chains, appears unfazed by the Heisman snub, pumping his fist as a blonde woman in a white dress cheers beside him. The clip, shared widely by NFL insider Dov Kleiman on X, has racked up over 269,000 views and drawn sharp rebukes for what many call a juvenile and unprofessional display.
The antics unfolded late Saturday night, shortly after Mendoza’s historic win made him the first Hoosier to claim college football’s most prestigious individual honor. The 6-foot-5 redshirt junior from Miami beat out a stacked field that included Pavia, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, capping a dream season that propelled Indiana to a perfect 13-0 record, a Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Mendoza finished with 2,980 passing yards and a conference-high 33 touchdowns, earning unanimous praise in his gracious acceptance speech for crediting his teammates and coaches.
Yikes: Diego Pavia went clubbing in NYC after losing the Heisman race to Fernando Mendoza…
He bought a sign that said “F**k Indiana.”
What an awful look for Pavia 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/9B5blzvQ6x
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 14, 2025
Pavia, a transfer from New Mexico State who revitalized Vanderbilt’s stagnant program, had been a dark-horse finalist after leading the Commodores to an 8-4 mark and a bowl berth — their best since 2013. The gritty dual-threat signal-caller rushed for over 800 yards and threw for 2,200 more, earning SEC recognition and turning heads with his underdog swagger. But Saturday’s second-place finish left a bitter taste, apparently fueling the post-ceremony outburst aimed at Mendoza’s school.
“Why do we care if he’s talking shit? He’s 23 years old and drunk in a club,” one X user defended, calling Pavia “confidently extroverted” after a “hell of a season.” Others were less forgiving. “This is a total douchebag move. NFL teams will look at this, and pass over him,” wrote another, while a third quipped, “Enjoy the CFL, kid.” Comparisons to infamous party-boy quarterbacks like Johnny Manziel flooded the replies, with one user joking, “If Johnny Manziel and Conor McGregor had a baby, it’ll be Diego Pavia.”
Pavia went viral earlier for saying “F*ck the Voters” on Instagram after losing to Fernando Mendoza.
The sign’s vulgarity — a direct jab at Indiana, which has no direct rivalry with Vanderbilt — amplified the backlash. Hoosier fans piled on, with one noting, “That’s ok, Iowa will do our dirty work since Pavia couldn’t make the CFP.” As a projected mid-round NFL draft pick, Pavia’s night out raises questions about his maturity at a pivotal moment. Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, who has praised the quarterback’s leadership, has not yet commented.
For Pavia, the episode underscores the tightrope Heisman finalists walk: one moment a national hero, the next a viral villain. As the college football world turns to the playoff, this clip may linger longer than any highlight reel. Mendoza, meanwhile, jetted back to Bloomington as a champion — and, for now, above the fray.
