# @sec on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=zCP4Kld6yKc
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67355990-sec-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/648f131f6c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-02T17:00:01.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Southeastern Conference (@SEC) — https://gondola.cc/SEC

## Caption

Before a Georgia Dome record crowd of 74,896 fans, Peyton Manning delivered the signature performance of his college career, rallying No. 3 Tennessee from a 20-7 second-quarter deficit to stun No. 11 Auburn, 30-29, and claim the Volunteers' first SEC championship in seven years on December 6, 1997.

Manning and the Vols came out firing, with the senior quarterback finding Peerless Price for a 40-yard touchdown on Tennessee's opening drive to grab a quick 7-0 lead. But Auburn answered with a vengeance. The Tigers rattled off 20 unanswered points thanks to a fumble return touchdown by defensive back Brad Ware and a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dameyune Craig to Tyrone Goodson, and Auburn carried a commanding 20-7 lead into the locker room.

Tennessee chipped away after halftime. The two teams traded third-quarter touchdowns, then Manning hit Price again — this time for 46 yards — to cut the deficit to 27-23. The two-point conversion attempt turned into a nightmare moment for the Vols, though, as Auburn blocked the extra point and Quinton Reese returned it for a two-point conversion of their own, stretching the Tigers' lead back to 29-23. 

Tennessee's defense finally forced a turnover, and the offense made it count. Early in the fourth quarter, Manning found receiver Marcus Nash deep down the sideline, and Nash broke a tackle and raced 73 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, putting the Vols ahead 30-29. From there, Tennessee leaned on workhorse running back Jamal Lewis to close it out — Lewis finished with 31 carries for 127 yards, both SEC Championship Game records at the time — and the Vol defense held on to seal the victory. 

Manning was named the game's MVP, capping his night with 373 passing yards and four touchdowns. The win sent Tennessee to the Orange Bowl to face No. 2 Nebraska for the Bowl Alliance national championship, but the Vols fell 42-17 as the Cornhuskers' rushing attack proved overwhelming. Auburn, meanwhile, headed to the Peach Bowl following its hard-fought near-miss in Atlanta.

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#SEC #1997SECChampionship #SECFootballChampionship #SECFootball #collegefootball #Highlights #GeorgiaDome #AtlantaGeorgia #PeytonManning #MVP #TennesseeVolunteers #AuburnTigers #MarcusNash #PeerlessPrice #BradWare #DameyuneCraig #TyroneGoodson #QuintonReese #JamalLewis

## Stats

- **Views:** 478
- **Likes:** 7
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Tags

quintonreese, jamallewis, marcusnash, secfootball, highlights, bradware, tennesseevolunteers, auburntigers, sec, peytonmanning, georgiadome, tyronegoodson, mvp, collegefootball, peerlessprice, atlantageorgia, secfootballchampionship, 1997secchampionship, dameyunecraig

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