Why is Diego Pavia Vanderbilt's first Heisman finalist? Start with these 5 games

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Diego Pavia played his best football at the end of the season, and that’s what landed him in New York as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Pavia’s best came in three games against Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee to close out the season. Those three wins led Vanderbilt football to finish with a record of 10-2 and a final ranking of No. 12 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. The Commodores did not ultimately make the College Football Playoff because they lost their two biggest games against Alabama and Texas — and that may be a knock on his resume for those who didn’t vote for him. But Pavia still rose up the odds, going from a fringe candidate to go to New York at all to having the second-best betting odds to win the award.

Pavia completed 242 for 340 passes (a 71.2% completion percentage) for 3,192 yards in 12 games this season, second most in the SEC. He also leads the conference with 27 passing touchdowns. He added 826 rushing yards on 152 carries with nine rushing touchdowns. His 4,018 yards of overall offense led the SEC.

Vanderbilt will play next in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa (8-4) in Tampa on Dec. 31 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN). Pavia is expected to play in the game, though no official announcement has been made.

The Heisman winner will be announced on Dec. 13.

Here are the five games that best make Pavia’s Heisman argument:

Kentucky

The Kentucky game on Nov. 22 was record-breaking for Pavia. In a 45-17 rout, Pavia put up a school-record 484 passing yards. That record had stood since 1981.

In that game, Pavia accounted for six touchdowns, five passing and one rushing, which tied his season high.

He didn’t play the entire game, as he remained in long enough to set the record and then was removed partway through the fourth quarter to a standing ovation.

Tennessee

Rivalry games matter a lot for the Heisman, as Peyton Manning learned in 1997. Pavia delivered in that aspect.

Vanderbilt was tied at halftime with Tennessee on Nov. 29, but the Commodores took control after halftime in the 45-24 win.

It wasn’t Pavia’s most spectacular passing game, as he went 18-for-28 for 268 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. But he shined as a runner in Knoxville, rushing 20 times for 165 yards and a touchdown. It was one of two games this season where Pavia had over 100 rushing yards and topped his previous single-game rushing high by over 50 yards.

And of course, Vanderbilt won. Fans traveled to Knoxville with “Pavia for Heisman” signs and celebrated with Pavia and his family afterward.

Auburn

More than any other game, Auburn was the contest where Vanderbilt needed Pavia most. The defense didn’t play well and the Tigers, who had just fired coach Hugh Freeze, were scoring at will. Pavia won out in the end as the Commodores won, 45-38, in overtime.

In that game, Pavia was 25-for-33 for 377 yards with three passing touchdowns. He also had his second-best rushing performance of the season, with 18 carries for 112 yards and one rushing touchdown.

This was an important game for Vanderbilt too, arguably the most important besides the Tennessee game. While the Commodores ended up not making the CFP anyway, an Auburn loss would’ve definitely eliminated them.

Utah State

It wasn’t against the best competition, but Pavia put up some of his best numbers of the season in the 55-35 win.

In that game, Pavia was 26-for-34 passing for 321 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed nine times for 79 yards and one touchdown, one of his most efficient rushing games of the season.

Perhaps the most impressive part of this outing was that Pavia was removed a little over five minutes into the fourth quarter. He had fewer chances than most to put up those numbers.

LSU

The LSU game was when Pavia hit the Heisman pose for the first time. While his numbers were less gaudy than some of the other games, this game was against an elite defense. Pavia was 14-for-22 passing for 162 yards and a touchdown and rushed 17 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-24 win. It was his only game this season with multiple rushing touchdowns.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Diego Pavia made Heisman case with 5 best Vanderbilt football games

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