Who won the 1997 Heisman Trophy? Remembering year Peyton Manning lost to Charles Woodson

Tennessee football fans who stayed tuned to ESPN after Saturday's Heisman Trophy ceremony might have found themselves reminiscing about Peyton Manning's 1997 Heisman Trophy snub.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, ESPN broadcasted “The Great Heisman Race of 1997,” the latest film in the network's “30 for 30″ series. The latest documentary focused solely on footage from throughout the 1997 Heisman Trophy race, which featured an all-time Heisman Trophy finalist class with Manning, Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson, Marshall receiver Randy Moss and Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf.

Eventually, it was Woodson, the Wolverines defensive back, who won the award, beating out Manning and becoming the first primarily defensive player to win the Heisman.

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Many Tennessee fans felt as though Woodson was the media's darling heading into the race, tilting the race in the cornerback's favor and snubbing the more-deserving Manning. During the 1997 season, Manning led the Vols to an 11-1 regular-season record, including a 30-29 win over Auburn in the SEC championship game. He finished his career with a 39-6 record as a starter, but it was not enough to snatch the trophy away from Woodson.

Here's everything you need to know about the 1997 Heisman Trophy race:

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Who won the 1997 Heisman Trophy?

The 1997 Heisman Trophy was awarded to Woodson. His exceptional defensive skills and impact on special teams — plus a few key offensive touchdowns — set him apart and made him the first (and only) primarily defensive player to win the prestigious college football award.

He finished with 43 tackles, including four for a loss and one sack; five pass break-ups; seven interceptions; 11 catches for 231 yards and three touchdowns; one rushing touchdown; and 33 punt returns for 283 yards and another score.

Did Peyton Manning win the Heisman Trophy?

Manning did not win the Heisman Trophy, despite an impressive tenure as the the Vols' quarterback from 1994 to 1997. He finished as high as the 1997 runner-up to Woodson.

Manning still leads the Vols in all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns. He went on to have a highly successful career in the NFL, becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks in the league's history. Manning's legacy is marked by numerous records, accolades, and two Super Bowl championships — just, not the Heisman.

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1997 Heisman Trophy voting results

Woodson emerged as the winner in the 1997 Heisman Trophy voting, making history as the first primarily defensive player to receive the prestigious award. He received 1,815 total points, securing 433 first-place votes out of 870 ballots cast.

Peyton Manning finished as the runner-up with 1,543 points and 281 first-place votes. Ryan Leaf placed third in the voting with 861 points.

A total of 203 voters, roughly 22%, omitted Manning from their Heisman Trophy ballots altogether, a surprise given his impressive record as a quarterback and his status as a projected No. 1 pick of the 1998 NFL Draft. Woodson likewise was left off a surprising number of ballots: 181, or 19.6%.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Who won the 1997 Heisman Trophy? Vols QB Peyton Manning was runner-up