Michigan football suffers crushing loss to Texas in Citrus Bowl as Arch Manning dominates at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium

Michigan arrived in Orlando hoping the Citrus Bowl would feel like a clean break — a night where football could finally take center stage again.

Instead, it turned into a showcase for Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who powered the Longhorns to a 41–27 win over the No.

18 Wolverines with four total touchdowns and a flair for drama that never seemed to fade.

By the final whistle, the result felt symbolic.

Michigan competed, even flashed promise, but once again found itself overshadowed — this time by a rising star in burnt orange.

Arch Manning Takes Control When It Matters Most

Manning didn’t just win the game; he owned the fourth quarter.

The sophomore passed for two touchdowns and added two more on the ground, including a back-breaking 60-yard sprint late in the game that effectively sealed the outcome.

The defining moment came earlier, though.

After taking a hard hit that left him clearly shaken, Manning bounced back on the very next drive and fired a 30-yard touchdown strike to Kaliq Lockett.

The throw flipped the lead back to Texas at 31–27 and sucked the momentum out of Michigan’s sideline.

Texas would add more points from there, pulling away in a game that felt closer than the final score suggested.

A New Voice, but Familiar Uncertainty on Michigan’s Sideline

Michigan’s coaching setup only added to the strange atmosphere.

Newly hired head coach Kyle Whittingham, brought in after Sherrone Moore’s dismissal, watched from ESPN’s broadcast booth rather than the sideline.

The team itself was run by interim coach Biff Poggi, who took charge for the bowl game.

Before kickoff, Poggi made it clear he wanted to open things up offensively, especially for freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.

For most of the night, that gamble looked justified.

Bryce Underwood Shows Growth — and Growing Pains

Underwood started confidently, completing 14 of his first 24 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Michigan trailed just 24–20 entering the fourth quarter, well within striking distance of the No. 13 Longhorns.

But the final period turned chaotic. Underwood threw three interceptions while also delivering one of the game’s most electric plays — a dazzling rushing touchdown that briefly put Michigan ahead 27–24.

The highs were real. So were the mistakes.

And against a quarterback like Manning, those mistakes proved costly.

Off the Field, the Noise Hasn’t Stopped

The loss came against a backdrop Michigan hasn’t been able to escape.

Moore’s firing earlier this month followed allegations involving improper conduct with a staff member and subsequent legal trouble.

He has denied wrongdoing and remains out on bond as the case works its way through the courts.

University officials have said the situation is under review, and it has become the most serious chapter in a stretch of uncomfortable headlines for the program.

A Pattern of Controversy Inside the Program

Moore’s case is only part of a longer list.

Former assistant Matt Weiss is facing federal charges tied to alleged cyber crimes involving student data; he has pleaded not guilty, and prosecutors are continuing to pursue the case.

Other staff members have also been arrested in recent years for unrelated incidents, leading to resignations and quiet exits.

Each situation alone might have been manageable. Together, they’ve created a sense that something deeper is wrong.

Michigan Launches a Broader Culture Review

According to ESPN, Michigan has hired the Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block to conduct a wide-ranging internal investigation.

The review is expected to look beyond individual cases and focus on how problems were handled — and why they kept happening.

University leaders reportedly want to understand whether warning signs were missed and whether changes are needed at a structural level inside the athletic department.

Success Still Exists — Complicating the Picture

What makes the situation even more complex is that Michigan continues to win.

The football program captured a national championship just a season ago.

The men’s basketball team sits at 12–0 and ranked second nationally, while men’s hockey leads the country at 16–4.

On the surface, Michigan remains one of the NCAA’s model athletic departments.

Beneath it, however, the school is now forced to confront whether sustained success has masked deeper issues.

Where Michigan Goes From Here

The Citrus Bowl was meant to be a turning point — a moment to talk about football again.

Instead, it became another reminder that Michigan’s challenges aren’t limited to the scoreboard.

As Texas celebrated and Arch Manning walked off having delivered a statement performance, Michigan was left with familiar questions: about leadership, accountability, and whether real change is finally coming — or still waiting.

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