Michigan Preps for Citrus Bowl Clash with Texas Amid Roster Turnover and Uncertainty
ORLANDO, Fla. - As Michigan gears up to face No. 13 Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Wednesday, the Wolverines find themselves at the intersection of transition and opportunity. It's been a whirlwind month in Ann Arbor-headlined by a coaching change, transfer portal activity, and a wave of player decisions that have reshaped the bowl game roster.
And like many non-playoff bowls in today’s college football landscape, the Citrus Bowl is less about continuity and more about adaptability. Michigan enters this matchup with several key contributors opting out or sidelined due to injury, and the result is a depth chart that feels more like a puzzle than a blueprint.
Interim head coach Biff Poggi isn’t sugarcoating the situation.
“There are different kinds of opt-outs,” Poggi said Tuesday. “We have three that were starters-two on defense, one on offense-who declared they were opting out.
Now we have some others that this week have decided not to play based on injuries. Our number is probably more like 12 to 15 in actuality.”
Among the known absences are offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi, linebacker Jaishawn Barham, and edge rusher Derrick Moore, all of whom have opted out. Tight end Max Bredeson, running back Justice Haynes, and safety Rod Moore are also expected to miss the game due to injury concerns.
That’s a sizable chunk of talent missing from both sides of the ball, and with the transfer portal officially opening Friday, it’s no surprise that Michigan’s roster is in flux. But Poggi isn’t dwelling on who’s out-he’s focused on who’s in.
“It is the Citrus Bowl and you are playing against the University of Texas, who was the preseason No. 1 ranked team in the country,” Poggi said. “Our kids are looking forward to playing, and if you can’t get excited about playing against Texas, then you might be in the wrong sport.”
That mindset will be critical for a Michigan team that’s expected to lean on a mix of veterans and less-experienced players-some of whom will be seeing their first significant snaps in a high-profile setting. The Wolverines have been practicing in Orlando all week, and while media access has been limited to brief warmup windows, there’s been enough to start sketching out a projected depth chart.
Of course, that projection comes with a caveat: this is bowl season in the modern era, where rosters can change overnight. The team that takes the field Wednesday may not perfectly match the one seen earlier this week in practice.
Still, for players looking to make a statement-whether it’s young talent hoping to carve out a role for next season or veterans playing one last game in the maize and blue-this is a stage to seize. And for Michigan, the challenge is clear: regroup, refocus, and bring energy against a Texas team that’s more than capable of testing whatever lineup the Wolverines put out there.
Poggi’s message is simple but sharp: this game may not carry playoff implications, but it still matters. Pride, development, and a chance to finish the season on a high note are all on the line.
And when the lights come on in Orlando, we’ll get to see who’s ready to rise to the occasion.