After a high school career that saw him ranked as the #119 player in the country for the 2004 recruiting class, Peyton chose to attend college at the University of Arkansas from 2004 to 2007, majoring in Sociology.

[1] During his sophomore year, Hillis accounted for 947 all-purpose yards (including more than 200 in kick-off and punt returns) and seven touchdowns while also serving as a blocker for up-and-coming star running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

The biggest victory of the season came on November 11 with ESPN College GameDay in attendance, Arkansas defeated #13 Tennessee in Fayetteville, 31–14.

Although this team did not meet pre-season expectations, finishing 8–5 after losing to Missouri in the 2008 Cotton Bowl, Hillis did help Arkansas upset #1 LSU in Baton Rouge in triple overtime, 50–48.

Arkansas was one of the most prolific running teams in the nation over those three seasons, owed in no small part to Hillis' blocking and receiving prowess.

[5] Later in the season, he recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game with seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in a 26–17 Broncos home loss to the Miami Dolphins on November 2, 2008.

[6] Following an injury to Ryan Torain in the Broncos 34–30 comeback road victory over the Cleveland Browns, Hillis was named Denver's starting running back.

[9] The string of victories and accolades built up anticipation among Broncos faithful for Hillis to continue as running back for the rest of the season.

Coming down from an acrobatic catch of a Cutler pass with his right foot planted, Hillis was hit from both sides by Chiefs' free safety Jarrad Page and cornerback Brandon Carr.

The hit doubled Hillis over, causing a 2–3 inch tear in his right hamstring behind the knee, which forced him to miss the rest of the season.

[11] With the loss of Hillis, depth at the running back position was practically nil and the Broncos fell to 8–8 on the season and failed to make the playoffs.

Due to a lack of postseason berths in recent years, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was fired during the offseason and replaced with Josh McDaniels.

[12][13] McDaniels' first order of business was to recruit new talent to fit his playing scheme, which involved adding depth to the running back position with first round draft pick Knowshon Moreno and free agent Correll Buckhalter.

[14] In a postseason interview, Hillis expressed disappointment over his playing time on the season, but remained tight-lipped about the controversy, maintaining that conversations between him and McDaniels were "friendly".

[17] During the 2010 preseason, the Browns distributed snaps evenly between Hillis, Jerome Harrison, James Davis, Chris Jennings, and Montario Hardesty (upon returning from injury).

After upsetting Ray Rice, Matt Ryan, and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, he advanced to the finals where he faced off against Michael Vick.