ESPN calls Michigan–Purdue a season-defining matchup, even if no one seems hyped for it

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Michigan football has perhaps its least hyped game of the season coming up, though it has the markings of being a hyped game.

The Wolverines are wearing their 'big game blues' vs. Purdue, and the game will be kicking off in primetime, under the lights. Yet, like Indiana in 2021, this is a game that no one is talking about, given how abysmal the Boilermakers have been.

Yet, when it comes to season-defining games as it pertains to the College Football Playoff, this one made the cut for ESPN, albeit in tier four.

ESPN highlighted Saturday's matchup between the Wolverines and Boilermakers as a consequential game as it pertains to the postseason. But the way it's marketed here, it's more like every forthcoming game before Ohio State in Week 14 is crucial for the maize and blue (because it is).

Purdue at No. 21 Michigan (7 p.m., BTN)

Michigan's offense has scored 13 points in each of its two losses and has averaged 34.3 in six wins. The latter is far more likely than the former here, but Purdue is increasingly competitive, with two coulda-woulda-shoulda losses in three weeks. Michigan is three games (and three projected wins) from a possible win-and-you're-in game against Ohio State.

Current line: Michigan -21.5 | SP+ projection: Michigan by 21.7 | FPI projection: Michigan by 21.6

Though Michigan has two losses compared to one at this point in 2021, the seasons aren't exactly much different. The Wolverines control most of their own destiny (the Big Ten Championship Game isn't a lock if Michigan wins out, but the College Football Playoff almost certainly is) and haven't had a particularly impressive campaign, outside of part of the nonconference. The schedule this year is arguably much harder, and the offense appears to be coming along slowly — but that's not unlike 2021, when Michigan had few blowouts to speak of and merely just kept finding ways to win before surprising Ohio State in The Big House.

Michigan and Purdue are set to kick off at 7:10 p.m. EDT, and the game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: ESPN lists Michigan–Purdue as CFP-impact game despite low hype

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