The game has been circled on the calendar for many reasons, and it’s been circled in both states. Michigan and Wisconsin are both so ready for Saturday’s huge showdown in the Big House.

This game was always going to matter, and matter huge. These two teams both entered the season with the same goal — win their division, then win the Big Ten, then make the College Football Playoff. Halfway through the season, those goals are all still attainable.

But you lose Saturday’s game and they start to disappear little by little. Not the division chases, because there are still huge conference games down the road, but the potential for a playoff spot for sure. Ohio State proved to us last year that winning the Big Ten doesn’t mean a thing if you have two losses.

Both teams know that.

“We’re ready. We’re ready to go,” Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson said Saturday after throwing for a season-high 282 yards and three touchdowns against Maryland win. “We’ll have a good game plan for (Wisconsin). They’re a great team. They’re going to come in here hungry, ready to play.”

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Michigan is 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin has had a bye week already, so it sits at 4-1 and 2-0 in the league. It’s that one in the loss column that has both teams on edge.

Michigan lost its season opener to Notre Dame, and even though no loss is ever good when you have national championship aspirations, this one doesn’t seem so bad now because the Irish are still unbeaten and a top-5 team in the country.

Wisconsin’s one loss came at home to an unranked BYU team, so the Badgers are already in trouble with the selection committee. To get a playoff spot, that means winning Saturday, winning the rest of them, winning the Big Ten title game and hoping that blemish doesn’t look too bad in the mirror.

Wisconsin won last year’s battle in Madison, and this one will be a defensive battle, too. What might give Michigan the edge — outside of being at home — is that its offense seems to be maturing quicker than Wisconsin’s. That might matter.

The Wolverines defense has been dominant, leading the nation in overall defense (230.5 yards a game) and pass defense (134 yards a game). They are sixth in run defense (96.5 yards) and 10th in points allowed (15.8). On offense, Patterson has made a big difference since transferring from Ole Miss. Michigan is 54th in total offense (420.7 yards) and 21st in pass efficiency, both better than a year ago.

Wisconsin ranks No. 2 behind the Wolverines in the Big Ten in scoring defense. They are No. 1 in the league in rushing offense (287 yards) and are fourth in total offense (480.2 yards).

Wisconsin has a great running back in Jonathan Taylor, who is averaging 169.8 yards a game and 6.7 yards a carry and has scored eight rushing touchdowns. That is Michigan’s biggest challenge to date.

“We’re ready. I feel like we’re ready,” Michigan linebacker Devin Bush said of the upcoming three-game stretch. “Just knowing they’ve got to come in and play us. They’ve got to defend against us and try to beat us. “When you come in, you play Michigan, you’re gonna have to beat Michigan,” Bush said. “Michigan is not playing against you.”

This game is so big that College Gameday is coming to Ann Arbor for the popular pregame show. It’s a big one. Actually, it’s a big TWO. That second loss? It’s going to be devastating to someone.