Colts legend and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning returned to Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium over the weekend

There isn't any place like Indianapolis when a major sporting event is in town. Indianapolis is a top-tier hosting city, and every chance they get to host a major event, they knock it out of the park. That was the case again this year, with the city hosting a section of the NCAA's Sweet 16 round […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Oct 20, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning stands behind the podium at a Ring of Honor ceremony during halftime in a game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Grace Hollars/IndyStar USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

There isn't any place like Indianapolis when a major sporting event is in town. Indianapolis is a top-tier hosting city, and every chance they get to host a major event, they knock it out of the park. 

That was the case again this year, with the city hosting a section of the NCAA's Sweet 16 round of the March Madness tournament. This brought some notable stars from the sports world to Lucas Oil Stadium, none bigger than former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHw4AFIS8ER

Peyton Manning returned to Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium to root on his alma mater Tennessee in the NCAA March Madness Sweet 16

Peyton Manning watches Tennessee against Kentucky at the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Indianapolis, IN.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

One of the Sweet 16 matchups that Indianapolis was tasked with hosting was between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Manning played for the University of Tennessee and is very loud in supporting the University's athletics year-round. So it shouldn't shock anyone that he made the trip to Indianapolis to watch his alma mater in a familiar city and stadium. 

Manning not only played in Lucas Oil Stadium but is given a lot of credit for the stadium being built. During his time with the team, the stadium was often referred to as "The house that Peyton built." Manning led the Colts throughout their glory years, which included a Super Bowl victory, and helped turn a city whose first love was basketball into a football town. He led the Colts to many wins during his time with the franchise and appeared to be a good luck charm for his Volunteers over the weekend as they took down their SEC rivals, the Kentucky Wildcats, by a score of 78 to 65 to advance to the Elite Eight.