Special to Detroit Free Press
On Nov. 8, 1997, for the first time in 26 years, four the country’s top five teams faced off against each other on the same day. No. 4 Michigan (8-0) at No. 2 Penn State (7-0), the first Big Ten bout of unbeatens in November since the famed 10-10 tie between Michigan and Ohio State in 1973.
Entering ‘97, Michigan football had suffered four straight four-loss seasons and third-year head coach Lloyd Carr lived firmly on the hot seat.