The 1997 match-up between undefeated Penn State and Michigan proved to be an early lesson in perception vs. reality for me.
Expectations were sky high for the Nittany Lions entering the season. Penn State found itself atop the AP Poll heading into the season, with nearly twice as many #1 votes as #2 Florida. Michigan came in at #14, with the thought they were in store for a satisfying season but with little reason to believe they might be hoisting the national championship trophy in January. They certainly weren’t capable of getting in the way of this highly-regarded Nittany Lions squad, right?