Peyton Manning Charles Woodson Randy Moss 1997 Heisman Trophy - ESPN

Twenty years later, it's a Heisman Trophy class that still has no peers.

It featured four first-round picks, three future Hall of Famers and one controversial decision.

There was Tennessee QB Peyton Manning, who spurned NFL riches the year before to return to school to win an SEC title and throw for 3,819 yards and 36 touchdowns. There was Michigan's do-everything playmaker Charles Woodson, who dominated at cornerback but also excelled on special teams and offense for the unbeaten and top-ranked Wolverines. There was the relatively unknown wide receiver at Marshall making defenses look silly in Randy Moss. And there was big-armed Washington State QB Ryan Leaf, leading the Cougars to the Rose Bowl.

When Woodson edged Manning to become the first primarily defensive player to win the coveted award, it set off howls of protests in Knoxville, Tennessee. To this day, fans on all sides fiercely debate if the voters got it right.

So as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the most captivating Heisman Trophy races ever, let's revisit that season through the eyes of players — including all four finalists themselves — coaches and media members who were there.

After turning down millions of dollars to return to school for his senior season, Manning endeared himself forever to Tennessee fans and entered the 1997 season as the prohibitive Heisman favorite. But for everything Manning accomplished at Tennessee, it's who he didn't beat, fair or not, that hounded him for much of his college career. He was 0-3 against Florida as a starter, and even though he was 6-1 against Tennessee's other two big rivals (Alabama and Georgia), a 33-20 loss to the Gators — highlighted by a Manning interception returned 89 yards for a TD by Tony