Michigan football crumbles in 41-27 Citrus Bowl loss to Texas
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
ORLANDO, FL — A matchup of two of next season’s top expected returning quarterbacks didn’t disappoint for three quarters, as Texas’ Arch Manning dueled with Michigan football’s Bryce Underwood in the Citrus Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
In the fourth, however, it was all Manning. The first-year starter found Kaliq Lockett for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 6:54 remaining, and Underwood was unable to lead the No. 17 Wolverines to an answer as the No. 14 Longhorns prevailed, 41-27, at Camping World Stadium.
Underwood, a true freshman, accounted for three touchdowns – two passing, one rushing – but also had three interceptions in the second half, including one in the red zone late in the third quarter. Manning, meanwhile, had four TDs (two passing, two rushing) and racked up 155 yards on nine carries, including a 60-yard dagger with 5:05 left.
The loss dropped Michigan (9-4) to 0-3 all-time against Texas (10-3); two of college football’s winningest programs – Michigan is No. 1, with 1,022 wins, while Texas is No. 6 with 960 – will meet again in Austin, Texas, in September 2027.
Michigan took the lead with a little under 11 minutes remaining when Underwood capped an 11-platy, 45-yard drive with a 5-yard rush, diving over his blocker to tap the right pylon. The play was reviewed for several minutes as it appeared Underwood lost control of the ball as it crossed the goal line, similar to a fumble through the end zone committed by Underwood against Purdue in November. But the call stood, and Michigan led Texas, 27-24. Manning and the Longhorns answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive for the eventual winning score.
Bryce Underwood gets over early
In the first half, Underwood showed why there’s optimism over the U-M offense for next season. The true freshman, in his 13th start of the season, completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 106 yards and two touchdowns. That included a throw as he evaded the Texas pass rush to Kendrick Bell at the front pylon for the Wolverines’ first touchdown and a screen pass to Andrew Marsh — wearing No. 3, rather than the No. 4 he wore during the regular season — for U-M’s second TD.
Underwood also broke loose for a 33-yard gain to set up the second touchdown, swallowing up big chunks of yardage in the open field. He finished the first half with five carries for 47 yards, matching the yardage total of third-string running back Bryson Kuzdzal in less than half the carries.
Dominic Zvada’s up and down half
The kicker’s second year as a Wolverine didn’t go as smoothly as his first, and that was captured in his first half in Orlando. Zvada got the Wolverines on the board with a 53-yard field goal — his ninth of at least 50 yards as a Wolverine, and his 18th of at least 40 yards in his career, both program records. But with a chance to give U-M a 20-17 lead going into the half, he pushed it wide right from 45 yards out — his eighth miss in 24 tries this season, after going 21-for-22 last season.
Next up for the Wolverines
It’s new coach Kyle Whittingham’s team now, with spring ball coming and then the 2026 season opener against MAC champion Western Michigan on Sept. 5. The nonconference slate is filled out by a pair of schools with a Southwest flavor, as College Football Playoff participant Oklahoma will visit Ann Arbor on Sept. 12, followed by UTEP on Sept. 19. As for the Big Ten schedule, the Wolverines will host Indiana (another CFP team), Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA and hit the road to play Minnesota, Ohio State (a third CFP team), Oregon (a fourth CFP team) and Rutgers. Of the 12 teams on Michigan’s 2026 schedule, just four — MSU, Rutgers, UCLA and UTEP — missed a bowl in 2025.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football crumbles vs Texas, 41-27, in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos