QuarterbackPeyton Manning had already completed his degree in three years and had been projected to be the top overall pick in the1997 NFL draft, but he returned to Tennessee for his senior year.[1] The Volunteers opened the season with victories againstTexas Tech andUCLA, but for the third time in his career, Manning fell toFlorida, 33–20.[2][3][4] The Vols won the rest of their regular season games, finishing 10–1, and advanced to the SEC Championship Game against Auburn. Down 20–7, Manning led the Vols to a 30–29 victory. Throwing for four touchdowns, he was named the game's MVP but injured himself in the process.[5][6] The No. 3 Vols were matched up with No. 2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Had Tennessee won and top-rankedMichigan lost toWashington State in theRose Bowl, the Vols would have been expected to win thenational championship.[7] However, the Vols' defense could not stop Nebraska's rushing attack, giving up more than 400 yards on the ground in a 42–17 loss.[8] As a senior, Manning won numerous awards He was a consensus first-teamAll-American and won theMaxwell Award, theDavey O'Brien Award, theJohnny Unitas Award, and theBest College Football Player ESPY Award, among others. However, he did not win theHeisman Trophy, finishing runner-up toCharles Woodson, acornerback for Michigan and the only defensive player ever to win the award.[9][10][11]
Peyton Manning threw for a school-record 523 yards and tied the school-record with 5 passing touchdowns in this high-scoring win over Kentucky. The single-game TD record fell in 2007 and the single-game yardage record stood until 2012. In all, Manning and Kentucky QBTim Couch combined for 999 passing yards (Couch threw for a then-school-record 476 yards).[28]
Peerless Price 40-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)
Tenn 7–0
10:25
Aub
Jaret Holmes 30-yard field goal
Tenn 7–3
5:36
Aub
Brad Ware 24-yard fumble return (Jaret Holmes kick)
Aub 10–7
1:27
Aub
Jaret Holmes 48-yard field goal
Aub 13–7
2
14:12
Aub
Tyrone Goodson 51-yard pass from Dameyune Craig (Jaret Holmes kick)
Aub 20–7
7:46
UT
Jeff Hall 27-yard field goal
Aub 20–10
3
11:56
UT
J. Copeland 5-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)
Aub 20–17
6:14
Aub
Fred Beasley 24-yard pass from Dameyune Craig (Jaret Holmes kick)
Aub 27–17
1:06
UT
Peerless Price 46-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)
Aub 27–23
1:06
Aub
Quinton Reese 98-yard PAT return
Aub 29–23
4
11:14
UT
Marcus Nash 73-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Jeff Hall kick)
Tenn 30–29
The Vols struck first just over two minutes into the game, but found themselves trailing 20–7 only 48 seconds into the second quarter. Despite six turnovers, Tennessee clawed all the way back. Peyton Manning threw for 373 yards and 4 TD, including a game winning 73-yard touchdown to Marcus Nash.[30]
^"Nothing to Prove; Manning Made His Decision to Stay at Tennessee, and the Rest Is History".Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 3, 1997.
^"UCLA Rallies in Second Half Against Tennessee, but Comes Up Short for Second Week in a Row, 30–24".Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 7, 1997.
^Fulmer, Phillip (1999).A Perfect Season. Rutledge Hill Press. p. 7.ISBN1-55853-798-8.Peyton had played with a lot of pain in the Orange Bowl because of an injury he had suffered in our SEC Championship victory against Auburn, and his mobility was limited throughout the game against Nebraska
^MacCambridge, Michael (2005).ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. p. 1401.ISBN1-4013-3703-1.
^MacCambridge, Michael (2005).ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. p. 1462.ISBN1-4013-3703-1.
^MacCambridge, Michael (2005).ESPN College Football Encyclopedia. ESPN Books. p. 1402.ISBN1-4013-3703-1.
