Michigan's loss still felt

Fans in Michigan Stadium were stunned as Appalachian State defeated Michigan 34-32 on Sept. 1, 2007.

Fans in Michigan Stadium were stunned as Appalachian State defeated Michigan 34-32 on Sept. 1, 2007.

On Sept. 1, 2007, a few thousand fans who watched the end of Ohio State's drubbing of Youngstown State converged on the concourse of Ohio Stadium to watch the final minutes of the Michigan versus Appalachian State game in Ann Arbor.

Coming off a season where many thought Michigan should get a rematch with Ohio State in the National Championship Game, Michigan started the season ranked No. 5 in the nation, and was looking to avenge its loss to OSU and recapture the Big Ten title. But the history of Michigan football took a dramatic turn for the worst.

Michigan was engaged in a battle with the lower-ranked Division I FCS school Appalachian State, in a game Vegas did not even bother setting a line for. Michigan lost the game 34-32, marking the first time an FCS school had defeated a ranked FBS program.

Fans in Columbus rejoiced. Similar scenes played out in East Lansing and Happy Valley.

Many called the upset the biggest one in college football history.

The game set the tone for a season full of upsets and where teams quickly rose and fell through the polls.

The game also set the tone for future years of Michigan football. In the eight years prior to 2007, Michigan football was 79-25. In the eight years since, Michigan is 55-46.

Michigan football has also hired three head coaches since that game as then Lloyd Carr retired at the end of the 2007 season.

Appalachian State ended up winning the FCS national title that season.

What one game in 2007 responsible for the nearly decade-long slump for Michigan football?

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