The No. 13 Texas Longhorns close out the 2025 season with a roster depleted by opt outs for Wednesday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines in Orlando at Camping World Stadium.
First quarter
Texas was able to extend the opening drive after getting into third and long when redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning connected with sophomore wide receiver Ryan Wingo for a 22-yard gain. Two plays later, redshirt freshman running back Christian Clark ripped off a 22-yard run with the Longhorns settling for a 43-yard field goal from graduate kicker Mason Shipley after Manning completed a nine-yard pass to junior tight end Jack Endries.
Two completions by Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood went for 27 combined yards to reach near midfield, but a false start penalty killed the momentum for the Wolverines and a fumbled snap by Underwood resulted in a sack by Longhorns sophomore edge Colin Simmons.
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Redshirt sophomore Ryan Niblett returned the ensuing punt for a 12-yard gain, but Texas couldn’t get anything going on its second offensive drive when a nine-yard reception by Wingo gave way to a two-yard loss for freshman tight end Nick Townsend on a 3rd and 1 carry.
After the punt, the Horns struggled with their run fits to open the drive, allowing gains of eight and 11 yards on the ground. A run stuff on the fourth straight run by the Wolverines forced a third-down conversion secured when freshman nickel back Graceson Littleton was flagged for grabbing Underwood’s face mask on a scramble that ended well short of the first-down marker.
Texas was able to successfully defend a double pass by Michigan and inflict a negative play when freshman linebacker Bo Barnes flashed his closing speed on a sack. Gaining nine yards on 3rd and 18 did move the Wolverines back into field-goal range, allowing Dominic Zvada to hit from 53 yards to tie the game at 3-3.
The first game-changing play was made by Michigan, forcing a fumble on Niblett’s kickoff return out of the end zone and recovering it at the 23-yard line. The Wolverines turned the turnover into a touchdown when Underwood connected with Kendrick Bell in the end zone on a play that was initially ruled incomplete but overturned on review despite what appeared to be a lack of indisputable evidence that Bell’s foot hit before his knee touchdown down out of bounds.
The Longhorns moved the ball steadily to open their drive, highlighted by two positive runs by Clark, but Manning missed a big-play opportunity when he took a big hit while trying to target redshirt freshman wide receiver Parker Livingstone down the field on a ball that hit the pass catcher’s fingertips but fell incomplete.
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The opening quarter ended with Texas facing a 3rd and 6 following a short scramble by Manning.
Second quarter
An offside penalty on Michigan made it 3rd and 1, but the offensive line wasn’t able to get any push on Clark’s run. Going for it on fourth down, Texas faked a snap to Endries to set up Manning on the edge, who made a sharp cut and finished the run strong for a 19-yard gain.
Then Clark finished the drive with the second rushing touchdown of his career from three yards out to tie the game at 10-10.
Underwood picked up 11 yards on a designed run to start the Michigan drive before the Wolverines missed an opportunity for a chunk play up the seam when tight end Marlin Klein jumped too early on a catchable throw from his young quarterback. Underwood went back to Klein for a first down, then scrambled for nine yards and ran for 33 yards, making Texas cornerback Kade Phillips whiff in the open field. Michigan regained the lead on a four-yard touchdown pass from Underwood to Andrew Marsh.
