The Michigan Wolverines return to the Big House tonight to take on a struggling Purdue team that has yet to win a Big Ten game this year.
Coming off a rivalry win over Michigan State last weekend, the Wolverines
(6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) appear to have steadied the ship after a midseason slide. With a bye week and two road trips still ahead before The Game, this matchup against the Boilermakers offers a chance for continued growth — particularly for freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and a defense working through some injuries.
Purdue (2-6, 0-5) is on a six-game losing streak and sits near the bottom of the conference in both scoring and total defense. First-year head coach Barry Odom has his team playing hard, but wins have been tough to come by. The Boilermakers’ last conference victory came nearly two years ago against Indiana, and this matchup marks their toughest test of the year so far.
Game Info
Teams: Purdue Boilermakers at No. 21 Michigan Wolverines
Date: Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Kickoff: 7:10 p.m. ET
Television: BTN
Spread: Michigan -21.5; O/U 48.5
Today’s question: Can Michigan stay sharp on both sides of the ball during its most important stretch of the season looming?
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has been much better at home this season, and against a Purdue defense ranked near the bottom nationally in pass efficiency, this could be an opportunity to reestablish rhythm in the passing game. Expect Andrew Marsh and Donaven McCulley to be key targets early on as Michigan looks to continue building those connections downfield.
On defense, Wink Martindale’s unit remains among the nation’s best in turnovers, and that could spell trouble for Purdue’s young quarterback duo of Ryan Browne and Malachi Singleton. Browne — a Clarkston, Michigan native — has thrown eight touchdowns to seven interceptions, while Singleton provides a running threat in short-yardage situations.
With linebackers Cole Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder both nursing injuries, expect increased snaps for Georgia transfer Troy Bowles and a pair of true freshmen in Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Chase Taylor. Michigan’s depth will again be tested, but this matchup offers valuable reps before the season’s decisive stretch.
