Did Peyton Manning Win a National Championship In College?

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Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (16) directs a play during their 31-17 win over Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997 in Knoxville, Tenn. Manning threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Jun 26, 2024, 3:47 PM

No, Peyton Manning never won a national championship as a college football player.

While Manning’s Tennessee Volunteer teams of the mid-1990s were very good, they struggled to beat Florida in the SEC East. Manning lost to the Gators as a sophomore, junior, and senior, which often derailed the Vols’ national positioning.

In 1997, during Manning’s senior season, Tennessee was in position to win the national championship despite an early loss to Florida. If Tennessee could beat Nebraska in the Orange bowl, and if Washington State could beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl, the Volunteers would likely be named national champions. 

Nebraska rushed for 409 yards and won 42-17. Manning finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting that year; Nebraska split the national championship with Michigan. 

Manning went on to win Super Bowl XLI and Super Bowl 50. In the former, he was named Super Bowl MVP.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.