It’s hard to believe today, in light of the reported impending breakup of ESPN and the Big Ten Conference, but once upon a time that relationship was suspected of being strong enough to decide who won the Heisman Trophy.
Twenty-five years ago, during what might have been the most contentious and controversial Heisman race of them all, a wide swath of the Tennessee fan base was convinced the fix was in: ESPN allegedly was pushing Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson to win the award over Volunteers quarterback Peyton Manning.
It’s unlikely that there was a concerted ESPN effort to help Woodson become the first (and only) primarily defensive player to win the Heisman.