Michigan vs. Purdue is a rivalry that I grew up loving because of some key players when I was young. Michigan football has always been near and dear to my heart, but Purdue has also had some players that I loved as a kid.
Drew Brees is at the top of that list. He broke my heart as a nine-year-old when they came back to beat the Wolverines in 2000 after trailing by 18. I remember being at my own youth football game and my dad telling me that Purdue came back to beat Michigan and all of a sudden, my game didn't mean as much to me. Purdue is also home to Scott and Danny Dierking, who are family friends and legends of football from my hometown. This series has brought a lot of memorable moments, great players, and one game that Michigan fans will always remember. Let's dig into the numbers.
All time record: Michigan leads 41-13
Most recent meeting: Michigan won 41-13 in 2023
First meeting: Purdue won 30-16 in 1929
Largest margin of victory: Michigan 51-0 in 1974, Purdue 37-0 in 1962
Favorite game from the series: Michigan won 16-14 in 2004
Michigan vs Purdue on a late October day underneath an overcast sky with both teams ranked in the top 15 are what dreams are made of. Games like this are what you will see when you look up nostalgia in the dictionary. To make the game even better, Brent Musburger was on the call for this Michigan victory. The game started fast with both teams scoring touchdowns in the first quarter. However, in true Big Ten fashion, that would not continue as the rest of the game was a struggle for points from both sides.
Michigan took a 10-7 lead going into halftime. Garrett Rivas had an up-and-down game as he went three for five on field goals. However, he came up clutch when it was needed most as he drilled a 35-yarder with 2:50 left on the clock to give Michigan a two-point lead. The Michigan defense produced a play that all Michigan fans will always remember on Purdue's next drive.
Kyle Orton hit Dorien Bryant on a jerk route over the middle that looked like it might set Purdue up for the game-winning field goal. Ernest Shazor and Leon Hall had other plans. Bryant leaped into the air, and Shazor flattened him. The ball came out on impact, and Hall recovered for Michigan to seal the game. The Wolverines escaped West Lafayette with a 16-14 victory. Some notable performances from the game included Michael Hart running for 206 yards on 33 carries, Tim Massaquio and Jason Avant each with five catches, and Leon Hall with an interception and fumble recovery.
Future outlook
Michigan and Purdue will play this upcoming season on November 1st in Ann Arbor and then once again in 2028 in West Lafayette. Purdue is a program that I hope gets a jolt of energy in the form of a coach, player or something that will give them momentum in their program.
The Big Ten is better when Purdue is competing for championships. Unfortunately, it has been quite some time since that has been the case, but I think it can happen if the right circumstances are put in place. I fully expect Michigan to blow the doors off the Boilermakers in the meantime.