Saturday’s game is truly a case of mission impossible for the UConn football team.

Not even Ethan Hunt could save the Huskies.

They’re a 47.5 point underdog playing at No. 4 Michigan at noon (Ch. 8) in Ann Arbor with attendance at Michigan Stadium expected to be around 110,000. The Wolverines (2-0) are coming off a season during which they reached the college football playoff for the first time.

Oh, and UConn’s facing the top scoring offense in the nation (53.5 points per game) and 11th-ranked scoring defense (8.5). The Huskies 0-10 all-time against top 10 programs.

Coach Jim Mora says Michigan doesn’t have any weaknesses.

“”They’re extremely well-coached,” Mora said. “They’re big, they’re physical, they’re fast, they’re skilled. They have their sights set on a national championship and they should be. They’re certainly worthy of that goal and expectation.

“... It’s going to be a challenge for our young men. We’re going to compete and fight like crazy and do all we can to try to win the game against a very good team. We’re not going there for any other reason but to give your best effort to win the game.”

At the very least, it will be a memorable experience and financially beneficial one. UConn will reportedly receive a $1.8 million guarantee.

“We get a chance to play against the best,” linebacker Chris Shearin said. “Anytime you get to do that, it’s a blessing.”

Playing road games against national powers is life as an independent. Last year, UConn traveled to Clemson. Brian Brewton returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, giving the Huskies a shocking lead in a game that they lost 44-7.

Brewton is one of several key offensive players out with an injury. He fractured his elbow in last week’s 48-14 loss to Syracuse and had surgery earlier this week, joining top receivers Cam Ross and Keelan Marion and opening game starting quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson on the sidelines.

Those absences have forced UConn (1-2) to run a conversative game plan, relying heavily on sophomore running back Nate Carter, who’s responded by rushing for 384 yards, third most in the nation. With his receivers struggling to get open, freshman quarterback Zion Turner has been mostly limited to a short passing game.

Turnovers have hurt the Huskies, who’ve committed seven in three games.

“We need to be way more efficient on offense,” Turner said. “We’ve got to get our first downs and we’ve got to be better on third downs as well. Our execution and effort has to go up. .. We started with way too many turnovers, so we’ve gotta get that number down.”

UConn was overpowered by Syracuse in all phases last week and Michigan is even bigger, faster and stronger. The Huskies managed just 10 first downs and 202 yards of total offense.

Michigan demolished its first two opponents, beating Colorado State (51-7) and Hawaii (56-10) before home crowds of 109,575 and 110,012, respectively.

The best case scenario for UConn is to stay close for as long as possible and finish the game as healthy as possible.

Depth already is an issue.

According to Mora, UConn has the smallest roster in FBS football at 105. He added that most other programs have up to 130 players.

“We’re not allowed to have depth because we’re capped out at 105,” said Mora, referring to UConn’s limit. “I’m not exactly sure the reason why, but that is a fact. I wish it wasn’t a fact because we certainly could use bodies and players. Our depth suffers because of that.

“We’ve got a lot of guys banged up in these first three, so our depth is not where it needs to be. Over time, and hopefully we can add to our roster and have more than a nation low 105, we’ll find players. … We’ll get bigger and more physical.”

Right now, Mora is more concerned about Michigan. He’s talked to his team about the atmosphere that they’ll experience.

UConn’s road routine includes a visit to the stadium on Friday to check out the field and stadium.

Mora knows that odds are stacked against the Huskies. But he could care less about the point spread.

His focus is on preparing his football team for the ginormous challenge

“We’re not going to talk about those types of things,” Mora said about the spread. “We’re going to talk about being our best on every single play that we play and line up and be better the next play. And that’s what I think that people that have success, that’s what they do. So, that’s our mindset.”

g.keefe@theday.com