Pressure? Purdue feeling none

Purdue vs. Michigan in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday night in Indianapolis. It doesn’t much bigger than this in the annals of Boilermaker history.

In fact, this is one of the biggest games in school history (see chart below).

“We want to enjoy the moment that we’re in right now,” said Purdue coach Jeff Brohm as this oh-so-big week unfolded.

Pressure? That’s squarely on the shoulders of Jim Harbaugh and Michigan (12-0 overall; 9-0 Big Ten). The Wolverines are thinking College Football Playoff and national championship, perched at No. 2 in the latest College Football Playoff poll.

Purdue? The Boilermakers can play loose, free and easy as 16.5-point underdog. Purdue (8-4; 6-3) isn’t supposed to beat mighty Michigan.

“Yeah, there will be more pressure on Michigan, of course,” said Brohm. “They have a chance to really do something special this year and they’re in great position to do that.

“For us, you know, this is a one-game shot to play in a championship game and roll the dice and see what we can do.”

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Brohm has been in championship games before. The sixth-year Boilermaker boss is 2-0 in league title games as a head coach, winning the 2015 and 2016 Conference USA titles while at Western Kentucky before coming to West Lafayette.

Michigan is looking to win this game for a second season in a row. The Wolverines thumped Iowa, 42-3, in the Big Ten title game last year and then lost 34-11 to eventual national champion Georgia in the CFP.

A win vs. Purdue on Saturday night will punch Michigan’s ticket to the playoff a second season in a row. Heck, even if the Wolverines are upset, most pundits feel they still will land a playoff spot as the program aims for its first national title since 1997. Harbaugh knows the roles these two teams will have when the game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET in Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I remember being in the position, what that feels like,” said Harbaugh. “It is so filled with optimism and good feeling with your team. I remember the feeling last year and nobody expected us to be there last year. Here’s this opportunity to go play in the championship game.

“I know how dangerous a team like that can be. I would imagine that is the same feeling Purdue is having. And the same feeling we’re having. It inspires your team and it invigorates it.”

Michigan has been flawless this season, but it has been pushed at moments. The Wolverines eased by Illinois, 19-17. Rutgers led the Wolverines, 17-14, at halftime. Maryland lost, 34-27, to Michigan. The Wolverines have always found a way. And it begins with defense. Is it the best Purdue has seen?

“This year, yeah,” said co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm. “There’s not a weakness that you could find watching film.”

Mike Morris and Mazi Smith set the tone up front. Linebacker Junior Colson and defensive back DJ Turner star in the back seven. The offense is littered with star power, too, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wideout Ronnie Bell and running back Donovan Edwards. Top running back Blake Corum isn’t expected to play due to injury. The o-line is big, physical and tough.

“They’re definitely up there with one of the best we’ve ever played since we’ve been here,” said Brian Brohm.

Big games vs. highly ranked and heavily favored foes don’t faze Brohm. He’s 3-0 vs. teams ranked No. 3 or higher as Purdue coach. He knocked off No. 2 Ohio State in 2018, took down No. 2 Iowa in 2021 and toppled No. 3 Michigan State that same season.

“When you play those type of teams, you have a little luck on your side,” said Brohm. “You have to play your very best. A lot things got to go your way. I do think that we will prepare hard. I do think that we will give it our best shot. I do think that as coaches, we got to put in a plan that has a couple wrinkles here and there that gives us an edge.”

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For Purdue, a victory not only would be one of the biggest in school annals, but it also likely would send the Boilermakers to the Rose Bowl for a third time and for the first time since the 2000 season. And Purdue could be fueled by a partisan crowd in Indianapolis, which is just roughly 60 miles south of its West Lafayette campus.

“We’ve got to figure out maybe what has slightly hurt Michigan at times on both sides of the ball and see if we can do something to take advantage of it,” said Brohm. “Of course, it’s going to come down to being aggressive, making plays, executing, blocking, tackling, and then having the ball bounce our way.

“Of course, on any given Saturday, anything can happen.”

Big games in Purdue history

Game	Skinny
Indiana 2000, W, 41-13	Purdue handed off over and over to Montrell Lowe and smashed IU 41-13 to punch Rose Bowl ticket.
at Michigan 1980, L, 26-0	Path to Pasadena was in site in this late-season game. Purdue’s only Big Ten loss.
at Michigan 1978, L, 26-0	Like November showdown with Michigan in 1980, if Purdue had won, it would have gone to the Rose Bowl. Only Big Ten loss for Boilers.
at Michigan 1972, L, 9-6	Purdue lost when Otis Armstrong slipped on the icy Astroturf. Had it beaten Michigan, it would have had the inside track for the Rose Bowl.
at Minnesota, W, 1966, 16-0	This was a late-season game that clinched Purdue’s first Rose Bowl.