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Peyton Manning’s Five Greatest College Performances With Tennessee Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

Feb 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning waves to the crowd during the Super Bowl 50 championship parade at Civic Center Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning waves to the crowd during the Super Bowl 50 championship parade at Civic Center Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 11, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; A general view of Legion field prior to the Sons of UAB alumni flag football game at Legion Field. While other schools around the country are planning spring scrimmages for their current teams and fans, former UAB players are making sure the Blazers get at least one more game at Legion Field. Coach Bill Clark started the alumni game last spring after his hiring and it
Apr 11, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; A general view of Legion field prior to the Sons of UAB alumni flag football game at Legion Field. While other schools around the country are planning spring scrimmages for their current teams and fans, former UAB players are making sure the Blazers get at least one more game at Legion Field. Coach Bill Clark started the alumni game last spring after his hiring and it /

2. 1995 Tennessee-Alabama

Tennessee Beats Alabama 41-14

Peyton Manning’s Stats: 20-of-29, 301 Yards, 3 Touchdowns (1 Rushing Touchdown)

We now move on to the memorable performances in wins that reshaped the history of Tennessee football. This was the game following that epic performance against the Arkansas Razorbacks, which we mentioned earlier was the game that put Manning on the map.

But as a sophomore, this game was colossal. At the time, the Tide were the Vols’ biggest rivalry, and they had not beaten them in 10 years. In what he would later describe as a determination to win the game for the fans and the seniors, Manning never let Alabama get anywhere close to him.

On the first play of the game, he connected with Joey Kent for an 80-yard touchdown pass to give the Vols a 7-0 lead. He then connected with Marcus Nash on a beautiful corner pass to give the Vols a 14-0 lead.

Then he scored on one of the most famous plays in Tennessee history by faking a handoff to Jay Graham, which was the actual called play, and walking into the end zone himself with nobody but Manning knowing who had the ball.

After Alabama finally got on the board, Manning threw another touchdown pass to Nash with a minute left in the second quarter to send the Vols into halftime with a 28-7 lead. Sure, Jay Graham clinched the game in the second half with a 75-yard touchdown run for the knockout. But it was Manning in the first half refusing to let Alabama get close that allowed the Vols to win in a blowout.

Tennessee won the game 41-14, and this was the turning point that set the Vols in motion for an epic five-year run. Manning’s first-half play was the cause of that.

Next: #1: 1997 SEC Championship

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