When Texas and Michigan square off in the 80th Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Wednesday afternoon, it won’t just be two of college football’s most storied programs sharing the field - it’ll be two teams with something to prove, each carrying a season’s worth of motivation into one final showdown.
Between them, the Longhorns and Wolverines boast nearly 2,000 all-time wins and 16 national championships. They've produced Heisman winners, All-Americans, and more NFL talent than most programs can dream of.
But history only gets you so far. On Wednesday, it’s about the present - and both teams are looking to finish 2025 on their own terms.
Texas: Playing with Purpose
For No. 13 Texas (9-3), the Citrus Bowl isn’t the destination they envisioned.
The Longhorns were in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation for much of the season, only to be left out when the final four were announced. That sting hasn’t gone away - and now, they’re looking to make a statement.
“For us, it is sending a message to the College Football Playoffs and the rest of the nation that we are a dominant football team and we are a physical football team,” said offensive lineman Trevor Goosby. “Whether we should have been in or not, that is up to the College Football Playoff, but we are just here to send a message and dominate the game.”
That message will need to be delivered without a significant chunk of their roster. Like many teams in the modern college football landscape, Texas is dealing with a wave of opt-outs and transfers. Running back Quintrevion Wisner, receiver DeAndre Moore, edge rusher Ethan Burke, linebackers Liona Lefau and Anthony Hill, and defensive backs Michael Taaffe, Malik Muhammad, and Jaylon Guilbeau are among those not suiting up.
That’s forced head coach Steve Sarkisian to get creative with how the team prepares.
“We had to adjust our practice format because of the numbers being down,” Sarkisian said. “You just don’t get to replenish the numbers when guys move on. When you look at 20-or-so-odd guys that are not with us that were with us throughout the season… we had to adjust how we practiced.”
Still, Texas has a chance to close the year with a third straight double-digit win season - a milestone that would speak volumes about the program’s steady climb back toward national relevance.
Michigan: Battling Through the Noise
On the other sideline, No. 18 Michigan (9-3) is also chasing a 10th win - but the circumstances are vastly different. The Wolverines have spent much of the past few months navigating off-field turbulence, and this bowl game offers a chance to turn the page.
The most recent blow came on Dec. 10, when head coach Sherrone Moore was fired following a school investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. That scandal came on the heels of the ongoing NCAA probe into alleged sign-stealing, which had already cast a long shadow over the program.
In the aftermath, Michigan turned to Biff Poggi to serve as interim head coach for the bowl game. And just this past weekend, the Wolverines hired longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to take the reins moving forward.
While the Citrus Bowl won’t be Whittingham’s debut, it’s still a pivotal moment for a team trying to close the chapter on a chaotic season.
“A win would be - it would be icing on the cake,” Poggi said. “But the real win for us has been the way these kids have handled adversity, and the way they have come to practice every day - the way they have just had to isolate themselves from an onslaught of outside noise.”
Like Texas, Michigan will be short-handed due to opt-outs and transfers. Defensive end Derrick Moore, linebacker Jaishawn Barham, and offensive guard Giovanni El-Hadi are among the key players who won’t be available. Poggi estimates the total number of absences to be between 12 and 15.
Still, the opportunity to line up against a blue-blood like Texas is more than enough to get the Wolverines’ competitive juices flowing.
“It is the Citrus Bowl and you are playing against the University of Texas, which was the preseason No. 1-ranked team in the country,” Poggi said. “If you can’t get excited about playing against Texas, then you might be in the wrong sport.”
A Clash of Tradition and Transition
This matchup is rich with tradition, but it’s also layered with transition. Both programs are navigating the ever-changing landscape of college football - where opt-outs, coaching changes, and playoff snubs are part of the new normal.
But come kickoff, none of that will matter. Texas will be looking to unleash its frustration and prove it belonged in the playoff picture. Michigan will be trying to end a turbulent season on a high note and set the tone for a new era.
The Citrus Bowl may not be the playoff, but don’t mistake that for a lack of stakes. For two proud programs, this game is about pride, identity, and momentum. And when the helmets collide in Orlando, expect both teams to play like they’ve got something to prove - because they do.