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Look: ESPN labels Peyton Manning as a 1998 national champion

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•12/30/22•

GrantRamey

Former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning on the sideline before the Orange Bowl (Capital One Orange Bowl)
Former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning on the sideline before the Orange Bowl (Capital One Orange Bowl)

Congratulations to Peyton Manning, who apparently was part of Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team. That’s how the legendary former Vols quarterback was labeled by ESPN during the broadcast of the Capital One Orange Bowl Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Manning threw for 11,201 yards and 89 touchdowns over his four years at Tennessee, but he was a senior in 1997, with his career ending in a loss to Nebraska at the Orange Bowl in January 1998.

Tee Martin took over for Manning to start the 1998 season and led the Vols to a perfect 13-0 record and a BCS National Championship, beating Florida State 23-16 in the Fiesta Bowl in January 1999.

Manning was on the sideline at Hard Rock Stadium before the game, as the Vols were back in Miami for the first time since he played his final game at Tennessee.

While the Vols were winning their national title, Manning would go on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion, a Super Bowl MVP, a 14-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time All-Pro pick and a five-time MVP.

He threw for 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns during his 17-year NFL career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Manning won his first Super Bowl in Miami, beating the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI on February 5, 2007.

On Friday night, Joe Milton started his second game of the season in place of injured starter Hendon Hooker. Milton completed 19 of 28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Bru McCoy, Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton on scoring plays.

Tennessee got back to the Orange Bowl by winning 10 games in the regular season for the first time since 2003. The Vols had not won 10 games in total, including the bowl game, since 2007. The Vols were looking for an 11th win for the first time since 2001.

Manning won 39 of his 45 career starts at Tennessee, leading the Vols to an 8-4 record as a freshman in 1994, an 11-1 record in 1995, a 10-2 record in 1996 and an 11-2 record in 1997, leading Tennessee to an SEC Championship in his final season.

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