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Here I sit, preparing my questions for an upcoming Q&A with our friends over at Maize n Brew, and it hits me. I'm planning to lead off by discussing something which at first I just thought was just a little footnote, but as I glanced at it things became eerily reflective. Get this:
The 2006 Michigan Wolverines had gone 11-2, ending their season with a BCS bowl loss to a Pac-10 team.
The 2012 Kansas State Wildcats had gone 11-2, ending their season with a BCS bowl loss to a Pac-12 team.
Michigan opened the 2007 season against the two-time defending FCS champions.
Kansas State opened the 2013 season against the two-time defending FCS champions.
Appalachian State had gone 14-1 in 2006.
North Dakota State had gone 14-1 in 2012.
The Michigan-Appalachian State game was the first game ever broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
The Kansas State-NDSU game was originally slated to be the first game ever broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
Michigan lost.
Kansas State lost.
GO SAY HI
GO SAY HI
Michigan proceeded to struggle before reeling off a solid winning streak.
Kansas State proceeded to struggle before reeling off a solid winning streak.
Michigan went on to win their bowl game.
OH-HO!
The only real difference that stands out is that Michigan was ranked #5 in the pre-season and expected to contend for a national title in 2007, whereas K-State's prospects were decidedly less rosy in a rebuilding year. Still, this is Lincoln/Kennedy-level stuff. Wow.
