Tennessee’s Peyton Manning and Kentucky’s Tim Couch on Nov. 22, 1997, after the Volunteers’ 59-31 win over the Cats at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington. The much-hyped game featured the two quarterbacks — both with Heisman aspirations — combining to throw for 1 yard short of 1,000 yards. The game had 42 plays of 10 or more yards, 21 plays of 20 or more, 11 plays of 30 or more, seven plays of 40 or more, five plays of 50 or more and three plays of 60 or more. There were 1,329 yards of total offense. There were 57 first downs, 12 touchdowns and 90 points, 59 by Tennessee and 31 by Kentucky. The winning quarterback, Manning, trying to win the Heisman Trophy, threw for 523 yards and five touchdowns. The losing quarterback, Couch, hoping to win a future Heisman, threw for 476 yards and two TDs. Manning, a senior, was a perfect 11-of-11 for 267 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. His 523 passing yards set a UT school record. Tennessee’s 695 yards of total offense were the most ever against a Kentucky defense. “Peyton just picked us apart, basically,” UK senior defensive end Lamont Smith said. Not that Couch was crummy in comparison, mind you. The UK sophomore star completed 35 of 50 passes for a school-record 476 yards. Said Kentucky coach Hal Mumme, “I enjoyed watching both quarterbacks.” Photo by David Stephenson | Staff