The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 14/14/13 Football closes season with 41-27 victory over No. 18/17/18 Michigan in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
12.31.2025 | Football
QB Arch Manning records two rushing and passing touchdowns in season finale.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Behind a dynamic performance from sophomore QB Arch Manning, No. 14/14/13 Texas (10-3) pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 18/17/18 Michigan (9-4), 41-27, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Wednesday afternoon at Camping World Stadium.
Manning finished 21-of-34 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 155 yards and two scores on the ground, totaling 376 yards of offense to earn the game's MVP honors. Manning notched his seventh game this season with both a passing and rushing touchdown, his third-straight contest doing so and the tenth such performance of his career, while also posting his seventh multi-touchdown passing game of the season. The New Orleans native became the fifth Longhorn QB to post a game with at least 200 yards through the air and 100 yards on the ground. Redshirt freshman RB Christian Clark totaled 105 yards on 20 carries for a touchdown, averaging 5.3 yards per rush.
Seven Longhorns recorded a catch, led by sophomore WR Ryan Wingo's team-high 64 receiving yards on four grabs. True freshman WR Kaliq Lockett hauled in two receptions for 35 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown – his first career touchdown reception, while junior TE Jack Endries added five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore WR Emmett Mosley V also contributed five receptions for 51 yards.
Defensively, Texas was led by sophomore LB Ty'Anthony Smith, who posted a team-high nine tackles and recorded a career-high two interceptions, including a pair of fourth-quarter takeaways. True freshman defensive back Kade Phillips added eight tackles with two tackles for loss, while Jelani McDonald finished with seven stops. Up front, Zina Umeozulu, Elijah "Bo" Barnes and Colin Simmons each registered a sack as the Longhorns generated timely pressure and forced three turnovers in the win.
On UT's first drive of the game, senior K Mason Shipley connected on a 43-yard field goal to give the Longhorns a 3-0 lead after a 50-yard drive.
Michigan evened the score at 3-3 on a 53-yard field goal with 4:01 left in the first quarter. The Wolverines then seized the lead moments later as QB Bryce Underwood connected with Kendrick Bell for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 3:15 left, pushing Michigan ahead, 10-3, at the end of the first quarter.
After Manning converted a fourth-and-1 with a 19-yard quarterback keeper to the Michigan 3-yard line, Christian Clark punched in a 3-yard touchdown run moments later to tie the game at 10-10 early in the second quarter.
After falling behind 17-10, Texas answered on the ensuing drive as Manning connected with Endries for a 17-yard touchdown, the tight end's third receiving score of the season, to even the score at 17-17 before halftime.
On Texas' first drive of the second half, Manning capped a nine-play, 80-yard march with a 23-yard rushing touchdown to give the Longhorns the lead at 24-20 with 5:38 left in the third quarter. The score marked Manning's seventh game this season with both a passing and rushing touchdown, his third straight contest doing so and the 10th such performance of his career.
Michigan took a 27-24 lead with 10:54 remaining in the game on a five-yard rush. Texas responded on the ensuing possession as Manning connected with Lockett for a 30-yard touchdown with 6:54 remaining, marking Lockett's first career touchdown reception and pushing the Longhorns back in front, 31-27.
The Longhorns quickly got the ball back when Ty'Anthony Smith intercepted Underwood at the Texas 45-yard line with 5:15 left in the fourth quarter.
Capitalizing immediately after the turnover, Manning scored on a 60-yard run on the first play of the ensuing drive to push Texas' lead to 38-27.
Smith recorded his second interception of the game with 4:33 remaining, picking off a pass from Underwood near the sideline to give Texas possession late in the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns' ensuing drive was capped by Shipley's second field goal of the game, a 51-yard kick that extended Texas' lead to 41-27, as Texas went on to secure the victory.
