These University of Tennessee students got a huge surprise from one of the school’s most famous alums.

Peyton Manning injected life into the monotony of an online Zoom class when he crashed the session to wish the students well and offer a message to help get them through the rest of the semester while learning remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The teacher, Dr. John Haas, caught the students off guard when he said, “Mr. Thompson, I think you were late for class.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Hass, it’s been awhile. It’s been at least since 1996, ’97 since I’ve been in a class,” Manning, 44, said as he popped up on the screen.

“You know, if you were here, I’d make you run the stadium steps for being late,” Hass joked.

Manning starred for four years as a Volunteer, graduating in 1997 and being selected by the Colts with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

Hass said one of his students had been begging to meet Manning.

“This is a unique time and probably not the ideal way you guys expected to spend your senior year, but I just encourage you to keep a positive attitude, keep working like you’re doing and try to take advantage of the little extra time you have to accomplish something else or help somebody in need,” Manning told the students. “A lot of people hurting out there during this time. Be thankful for what you have, and just know University of Tennessee is proud of you and is gonna support you any way [they] can.”

One woman in the class made a crack to the professor about not getting advance notice.

“Dr. Hass! Some of us didn’t even put on makeup this morning!” she exclaimed.

Manning has been the apple of ESPN’s eye as the network sought a dream “Monday Night Football” pairing of he and Al Michaels, but The Post’s Andrew Marchand reported ESPN’s request to discuss a trade with NBC for Michaels was rebuffed, and Manning later turned down the gig.