Michigan fans donate to support Purdue QB Aidan O'Connell, whose brother Sean recently died

Ahead of the Big Ten Championship game between Michigan and Purdue, fans are coming together in a time of grief.

On Sunday, after leading Purdue to a win over Indiana that clinched the team's spot in the Big Ten title game, Boilermakers quarterback Aidan O'Connell announced that his older brother, Sean, had died. And while Michigan fans likely won't be cheering for him on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium when the two teams meet Saturday night, they're supporting him off of it.

Boilermaker Alliance, a nonprofit charitable organization set up in wake of NIL, tweeted Wednesday that "numerous Michigan fans" have donated $16 (O'Connell's jersey number) to Boilermaker Alliance. The money will be donated to a charity of the O'Connell family's choice.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Michigan football fans donate to support Purdue QB Aidan O'Connell