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The oral history of the epic 1997 Heisman Trophy race

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.