If you walked into a sports bar in Knoxville today and asked the locals about the 1997 Heisman race, you’d probably want to clear your schedule for an hour. It’s one of those "Where were you?" moments in college football history that hasn't aged a day. Despite being one of the most prolific, cerebral, and successful quarterbacks to ever touch a pigskin, did Peyton Manning win the Heisman Trophy?
The short answer is no. Honestly, it remains one of the most debated "snubs" in the history of the sport.
Manning finished his senior year at the University of Tennessee with a trophy case that was bursting at the seams. He had the Maxwell Award. He had the Davey O’Brien. He was the SEC Player of the Year. But when it came to that bronze statue of a man stiff-arming the air, he came in second. He was the runner-up to Michigan’s Charles Woodson.
It wasn't just a loss; it was a cultural shift in how we think about the Heisman.
The Night in New York That Changed Everything
December 13, 1997. The Downtown Athletic Club was packed. You had a lineup that, in hindsight, looks like a Madden Ultimate Team dream roster. Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf, Randy Moss, and Charles Woodson.
Most experts—and certainly everyone in the state of Tennessee—assumed Manning was a lock. He had stayed for his senior year specifically to finish what he started. He’d put up 3,819 passing yards and 36 touchdowns that season. Those were massive numbers back then. But when the envelope opened, it was Woodson's name that echoed through the room.
Woodson didn't just win; he won by a fairly comfortable margin of 272 points. He garnered 433 first-place votes compared to Manning's 281.
Why? Because Charles Woodson was a unicorn.
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He was a cornerback who played wide receiver and returned punts. In an era where "two-way player" was a term reserved for the 1940s, Woodson was a throwback who dominated every phase of the game. He had seven interceptions, but he also had that iconic punt return touchdown against Ohio State that basically served as his "Heisman moment."
Why the Heisman Trophy Eluded Peyton Manning
If you dig into the "why," it usually boils down to three specific narratives that haunted Manning’s candidacy.
1. The Florida Problem
You can't talk about Manning’s college career without mentioning the Florida Gators. Specifically, the fact that he went 0-3 as a starter against them (0-4 if you count his freshman year relief appearance). In 1997, Tennessee lost to Florida 33-20. Even though Manning threw for over 300 yards in that game, the "can't win the big one" label stuck to him like glue. Voters in the 90s were obsessed with big-game wins, and Michigan was undefeated.
2. The Fatigue of Being the Favorite
Manning was the "prohibitive favorite" from the moment the 1996 season ended. When you’re the frontrunner for twelve months, people start looking for reasons not to vote for you. Every mistake is magnified. Every incompletion feels like a crack in the armor. Woodson, meanwhile, was the exciting "new" thing that surged late in the season.
3. The "Pure" Defender Narrative
Before 1997, no primarily defensive player had ever won the Heisman. There was a growing sentiment among media members that the award had become a "Best Quarterback on a Top 5 Team" trophy. Voting for Woodson felt like a way to "save" the award's prestige by acknowledging a different kind of greatness.
Breaking Down the 1997 Stats
Let's look at what Manning actually did during that final year at Tennessee. It’s easy to forget just how much he carried that team.
- Passing Yards: 3,819
- Touchdowns: 36 (a school and SEC record at the time)
- Completions: 287
- Interceptions: 11
- Record: 11-2, SEC Champions
Compare that to Woodson, who had 7 interceptions, 2 receiving touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown, and that 1 legendary punt return. It was a classic "volume vs. versatility" debate. Manning was the engine, but Woodson was the lightning bolt.
The Aftermath: Does It Even Matter?
It’s kinda funny looking back. Manning went #1 overall in the draft. Woodson went #4. Both ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both won Super Bowls.
But for Tennessee fans, the wound is still fresh. There’s a persistent theory—often called the "ESPN Bias"—suggesting that the network pushed Woodson late in the year to create a more compelling TV show for the ceremony. Whether that’s true or just sour grapes is up for debate, but it adds to the lore.
Manning himself has always been classy about it. He famously said he was "relieved" when the whole process was over because the hype had become so suffocating. He didn't need the trophy to prove he was the best quarterback in the country; he proved that for the next eighteen years in the NFL.
What You Should Know Now
If you're settling a bet or just curious about the history of the award, here is the reality:
- Peyton Manning never won the Heisman. He finished 6th in 1995, 8th in 1996, and 2nd in 1997.
- Charles Woodson is still the only primarily defensive player to win it. This makes Manning’s "loss" a historic footnote.
- The 1997 SEC Title was his consolation prize. People forget he actually led the Vols to a conference championship that year by beating Auburn 30-29.
If you really want to dive into the nuance of Manning’s legacy, look at the William V. Campbell Trophy he won in 1997. It’s often called the "Academic Heisman," and it reflects the side of Peyton—the preparation, the intelligence, the scholar-athlete—that actually defined his professional career more than a bronze statue ever could.
Next time you see a Heisman highlight reel, remember that the greatest to ever play the position is conspicuously missing from the winner's circle. It doesn't make him any less of a legend; it just makes the Heisman Trophy a little more controversial.
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For those interested in the deep history of Tennessee football, you might want to look into the 1956 race where Johnny Majors also finished second in a widely criticized vote. It seems the Volunteers and Heisman heartbreaks go way back.
Actionable Insight: If you're analyzing modern Heisman races, look for the "Woodson Effect"—the tendency for voters to pivot toward a "versatile" or "defensive" player when a quarterback frontrunner fails to win their biggest rivalry game. It's a pattern that started in 1997 and continues to influence the Heisman trust today.