Arch’s Arrival: Manning’s Masterclass Leads Texas Past Michigan in Citrus Bowl

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In a clash of two of college football’s most storied brands, the No. 13 Texas Longhorns (10–3) utilized a dominant fourth quarter to defeat the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (9–4) by a score of 41–27 in the 2025 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Before a crowd of 47,316 at Camping World Stadium, redshirt sophomore Arch Manning delivered a career-defining performance, outdueling Michigan’s star freshman Bryce Underwood and securing the Longhorns’ third consecutive 10-win season under Steve Sarkisian.

The Manning Show: MVP Performance

Manning, who had experienced an up-and-down 2025 campaign, silenced critics by accounting for nearly 80% of the Texas offense. He became the first quarterback in a bowl game to record 150+ rushing yards, 2 passing TDs, and 2 rushing TDs since Lamar Jackson in 2015.

“He just gets it,” Sarkisian said after the game. “He played like the best player on the field tonight, even when things got physical.”

Passing: 21-of-34, 221 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: 9 carries, 155 yards, 2 TDs (including a 60-yard game-sealer)

The Duel: Manning vs. Underwood

For three quarters, the game was a back-and-forth heavyweight fight between two former No. 1 overall recruits.

The Freshman Flash: Michigan’s Bryce Underwood kept the Wolverines in the hunt, throwing two touchdown passes and diving into the pylon for a 5-yard score early in the fourth quarter to give Michigan a 27–24 lead.
The Turning Point: Trailing by three with eight minutes left, Texas faced a daunting 4th-and-2 at their own 46. Manning escaped a blitz for a 15-yard scramble. On the very next play, he dropped a perfect 30-yard touchdown strike to Kaliq Lockett to reclaim the lead.

The Lopsided Fourth: 17 Unanswered Points

While the first three quarters saw seven lead changes, the final 11 minutes belonged entirely to the Longhorns.

The Lockett TD: Texas takes a 31–27 lead (6:54 left).
The Interception: On the ensuing drive, Texas linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith picked off Underwood’s pass over the middle.
The Dagger: One play later, Manning burst through the middle for a 60-yard touchdown run, effectively turning out the lights on the Michigan sideline.
The Final Blow: After another Ty’Anthony Smith interception, Mason Shipley drilled a 51-yard field goal to provide the final 41–27 margin.

Key Game Stats

Category	Michigan Wolverines	Texas Longhorns
Total Yards	373	456
Rushing Yards	174	235
Turnovers	3	1
Time of Possession	33:08	26:52
Penalties-Yards	9-95	12-103

Player Highlights

Texas RB Christian Clark: Stepping in for starters who entered the portal, Clark rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Michigan K Dominic Zvada: Broke the program record for career 40+ yard field goals with a massive 53-yarder in the first quarter.
Texas LB Ty’Anthony Smith: The defensive hero, recording two interceptions in the final eight minutes of the game.

The Big Picture

For Texas: The win serves as a massive “launching pad” for 2026. After a December that saw several starters enter the transfer portal, the young core—led by Manning, Clark, and Lockett—proved the program’s depth is elite.

For Michigan: The loss ends a tumultuous month defined by coaching transitions. While interim coach Biff Poggi kept the team competitive for 50 minutes, the Wolverines now look toward the Kyle Whittingham era, which officially begins in 2026.