Last year, Penn State had a defining season, returning to national prominence with an 11-1 season and an Orange Bowl victory after two lackluster seasons.

This year, No. 4 Michigan is working on its resurgence.

The 2005 Wolverine squad finished a disappointing 7-5, losing in the Alamo Bowl to Nebraska and dropped out of the national rankings for the first time since Oct. 18, 1998. As the losing continued, pundits speculated that head coach Lloyd Carr was on his way out.

The Wolverines heard the boos, and for the winningest program in the history of college football, it was an unacceptable year.

"That's one of the worst feelings you can have. That's one of the worst teams that's been at Michigan in history," defensive end LaMarr Woodley said. "We went down in history."

So far, it appears Michigan is well on its way to another historical season, though not for the same reason. Heading into tomorrow's game against Penn State, Michigan is 6-0 behind an unflappable defense, still riding high after an impressive 47-21 drubbing of then-No. 2 Notre Dame in South Bend, the most points the Fighting Irish have allowed at home in 46 years. More than that, Michigan is considered a contender for a national title.

"Last year it was kind of dead. 'Oh they aren't any good. They don't have any talent,' " junior quarterback Chad Henne said. "Now it's like, 'Oh God, they're back! And they have the chance to do something great.' "

So far, Michigan has done it with a suffocating defense, allowing just 14.2 points per game. On offense, Henne's again having a monster season. To date, he's thrown 13 touchdown passes, nine to sophomore wide receiver Mario Manningham, who will miss Saturday's game with a knee injury.

With everything clicking, it appears as if the Big Ten title will be decided Nov. 18, when Michigan takes on No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus.

But if it weren't for last year, this year's Michigan team might not be where it is now. After the loss in the Alamo Bowl, the returning players decided they didn't want a losing legacy, and decided to use the year as motivation.

While the Wolverines could have easily blamed Carr for the struggles, the players took the onus.

"Being 7-5, along with what everyone else was saying in the paper about how Michigan is going downhill and stuff like that, we were all just pointing at ourselves" cornerback Leon Hall said. "We were the ones playing the game out there."

In a matter of a year, Henne said the old feeling of pride has returned to a campus steeped in tradition.