Texas Hits the Field in Orlando with a Slimmer Roster but a Familiar Edge Ahead of Citrus Bowl Clash with Michigan
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Texas Longhorns rolled into Celebration High School on Saturday morning with sirens blaring and police escorts leading the way - a familiar scene for a team used to the spotlight. But as the buses emptied and players stepped onto La Rosa Field for their first practice in Florida ahead of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, one thing was immediately clear: this wasn’t quite the same group that took down then-No. 3 Texas A&M to close out the regular season.
Texas, now prepping for a New Year’s Day showdown with Michigan, is navigating a new-look roster - one trimmed down to 65 scholarship players. That’s the result of 11 players from the team’s two-deep depth chart either declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft or preparing to enter the transfer portal when it reopens on January 2. It’s a significant shift, especially for a 9-3 squad still eyeing a 10-win season and eager to make a statement against another 9-3 power in Michigan.
But if you’re expecting a team rattled by attrition, think again.
“Same energy, same everything,” sophomore wide receiver Ryan Wingo said after Saturday’s fully padded practice. “The main goal is to get 10 wins.”
That mindset is echoed throughout the locker room. Veteran leaders and rising underclassmen alike are stepping into the void, and the tone has been set by players who aren’t waiting for next season to take the reins.
Senior left guard Cole Hutson pointed to quarterback Arch Manning and left tackle Trevor Goosby as two players who’ve taken on more vocal leadership roles in recent weeks. Manning, in particular, is embracing the moment, not just as a quarterback, but as a tone-setter for a program looking to finish strong.
“Arch has been key as a leader,” Hutson said. “Trevor Goosby has stepped up a lot, but younger guys like Graceson Littleton have also stepped up.
The whole vibe of the locker room is one of guys being excited to go out there and make sure we prove something. We still want to send a message to the [College Football Playoff] committee, so it’s exciting.”
That message? Even without a full roster, Texas isn’t backing down.
On the defensive side, junior safety Jelani McDonald is stepping into a bigger role - both on the field and in the locker room - following the departure of fifth-year senior and first-team All-SEC safety Michael Taaffe, who opted out of the bowl game. McDonald, who announced Friday that he’ll return for his senior season, is embracing the challenge of leading a younger secondary.
“Nothing has really changed for us to be honest,” McDonald said. “I’ve got the shoes now that Taaffe is gone and I have to be ready to carry it.”
Michigan, meanwhile, is going through its own transition. The Wolverines recently learned they’ll have a new head coach in 2026 - Kyle Whittingham - but for now, all eyes are on the bowl matchup, which kicks off Wednesday at 2 p.m. CT on ABC.
As Texas continues its bowl prep in Orlando, the message is clear: the names may be different, but the mission hasn’t changed. This team is here to compete - and to prove that even with a slimmer roster, the fire still burns just as hot.