College Football: 10 greatest players to never win the Heisman Trophy

The 1997 Heisman Trophy was one of the closer contests in college football history. It was between one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the SEC versus the best player on the best team in the country.

Peyton Manning rewrote the record book at Tennessee and in the SEC. He led the Volunteers to three consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since the early 1970s and made them a threat in the SEC.

On the other hand, Charles Woodson was the best player on one of Michigan’s best teams ever. But just by the numbers, Manning should have won the Heisman Trophy.

This was one of the first times in my lifetime where writers openly began to discuss exactly what the Heisman Trophy is as an award. Was it an award for the most valuable player? Was it an award for the best player? How do you separate the two? Woodson was the best player on the best team but was Peyton the better player?

The 1997 voting was difficult. Woodson could shut down his entire half of the field. Manning arguably was the best passing quarterback the SEC had seen to that point. That’s what makes these discussions so great.