Citrus Bowl Takeaways: Underwood Flashes, Manning Delivers, and Michigan Eyes a New Era
ORLANDO, Fla. - The 80th Cheez-It Citrus Bowl lived up to its billing. Two storied programs, a pair of headline-grabbing quarterbacks, and a game that didn’t truly tilt until the final minutes.
In the end, it was No. 13 Texas walking away with a 41-27 win over No.
18 Michigan, but this one was more than a scoreboard story - it was a glimpse into the future for both teams.
With a 17-17 tie at halftime and Michigan briefly grabbing a fourth-quarter lead, this wasn’t just a bowl game - it was a statement game. And while Texas finished stronger, Michigan walked off the field knowing exactly where it stands heading into a pivotal offseason.
Here’s what stood out from a game that had no shortage of intrigue.
1. Bryce Underwood is the Future - and the Future is Now
Michigan fans, meet your quarterback.
Bryce Underwood didn’t just get his feet wet on New Year’s Eve - he dove straight into the deep end against a top-15 Texas team and showed why he was the No. 1 recruit in the country. Thrust into the spotlight amid coaching changes and roster turnover, the true freshman delivered a performance that was equal parts electric and instructive.
Underwood piled up over 300 total yards and delivered one of the game’s signature moments with a 33-yard scramble that set up a touchdown pass to fellow freshman Andrew Marsh. That play? Pure instinct, athleticism, and poise - the kind of play that makes coaches and fans alike sit up straight.
He extended plays, kept drives alive against a relentless Texas pass rush led by Colin Simmons, and gave Michigan a fighting chance well into the fourth quarter. Yes, the two late interceptions stung - both came as he tried to force the issue while trailing by double digits - but that’s part of the learning curve. What mattered more was how he carried himself: confident, composed, and clearly in command.
The chemistry with Marsh is already showing signs of something special. For a program in transition, that connection is a building block.
2. Arch Manning’s Composure Was the X-Factor
While Underwood gave us the highlight reel, Arch Manning gave us the closer’s performance.
This was a quarterback duel that lived up to the hype - two generational talents on opposite sidelines, both with the game in their hands. And when it mattered most, it was Manning who took control.
After Michigan grabbed a 27-24 lead early in the fourth, Manning responded like a seasoned vet. He led back-to-back scoring drives that sealed it - one capped by a precise 13-yard touchdown pass to Parker Livingstone, the other by a 23-yard touchdown run that left Michigan’s defense grasping at air.
Four total touchdowns on the day for Manning. More importantly, he showed complete command of Steve Sarkisian’s offense.
Michigan’s defense brought pressure and physicality, but Manning never flinched. He made the right reads, stayed patient, and picked his spots with surgical precision.
It’s the kind of performance that separates a good quarterback from a great one - and a good team from a great finish. Texas looked like a top-10 program in those final ten minutes, and Manning was the engine behind it.
3. Michigan’s Identity in Flux - But the Foundation Is Still There
This wasn’t just a bowl game for Michigan - it was a bridge between eras.
With Sherrone Moore out and Kyle Whittingham set to take over, the Wolverines are in a state of transition. But if you were expecting a team that looked fractured or checked out, that’s not what showed up in Orlando.
Interim coach Biff Poggi deserves credit for keeping the group focused. Michigan came out swinging, matched Texas punch for punch through three quarters, and even took a late lead. That’s not the effort of a team that’s lost its way.
Defensively, Michigan stood tall for most of the game. The front seven kept Texas’ ground game in check, and the physicality - a hallmark of recent Michigan teams - was still there.
But the cracks showed late. The secondary depth got exposed in crunch time, and the offense, while promising, lacked the structure to fully support its young quarterback in high-pressure moments.
That’s where Whittingham comes in. Known for building tough, disciplined teams at Utah, he inherits a roster that’s already bought into the physical side of football. What he’ll need to do is bring stability, especially on offense, and give Underwood the framework to grow into the star he’s clearly capable of becoming.
The loss stings, no doubt. But it also revealed something important - this team hasn’t lost its edge. There’s work to do, but the fight is still there.
Bottom Line: Texas closed strong and earned the win, but Michigan didn’t walk away empty-handed. They found their quarterback.
They showed their culture still has teeth. And with a new coach stepping in, they’ve got a clear direction heading into 2026.
The scoreboard may have said 41-27, but the story was much bigger than the final score.