Peyton Manning makes appearance at Baylor vs McCallie with son Marshall back in action

Baylor (TN) has played a good number of big-time games so far this season but their biggest game of the season regardless of record is always against crosstown rival McCallie (TN).

The two added another chapter to that rivalry Friday night, Oct. 2, with a NFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback in attendance.

Peyton Manning was spotted in the Baylor stands before the Red Raiders and Blue Tornado kicked off. Peyton's son Marshall is a freshman at Baylor and the backup quarterback.

He transferred to the Chattanooga private school from Colorado ahead of his eighth-grade year and is the backup quarterback to Ole Miss four-star commit Keegan croucher.

Marshall played in the Red Raiders' season-opener against Brentwood Academy (TN), completing his only pass attempt in the game to 2028 four-star athlete Antwaun 'Cornbread' Adams for a first down.

He would miss multiple weeks with an foot injury but returned last week in Baylor's 45-17 win over Montgomery Bell Academy (TN) and played the entire fourth quarter.

Baylor entered this week's matchup with McCallie as the No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings and the No. 7 in the updated USA TODAY Sports Super 15 southeast rankings.

Manning's legacy in the Volunteer State

While Peyton went on to play a Hall-of-Fame career with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, he has always been beloved by the Volunteer State.

He was a star at the University of Tennessee, playing from 1994-1997. In his four years with the Volunteers, Manning completed 67% of his passes for 11,201 yards and 89 touchdowns, earning Heisman finalist odds his senior season.

The Indianapolis Colts selected him with the first pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent 17 seasons in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls while passing for 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns. Peyton was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2021.

Follow Sports ReporterJoe Spearson X at@joe_spears7or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to followUSA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Peyton Manning makes appearance at Baylor vs McCallie with son Marshall back in action