ORLANDO, Fla. — Texas beat Michigan 41-27 in a Citrus Bowl matchup between teams trying to set the table for 2026.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning capped his late-season surge by completing 21 of 34 passes for 221 yards and rushing for 155 yards and two touchdowns. After a rough start to the season, Manning led the No. 13 Longhorns (10-3) to seven wins in their final eight games, capped by the bowl victory.

With new Wolverines coach Kyle Whittingham looking on, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood went 23 of 42 for 199 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Michigan (9-4) hired Whittingham on Friday to replace Sherrone Moore, who was fired Dec. 10 for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and arrested following an incident later that day. Biff Poggi was Michigan’s interim coach in the bowl game.

Here are our takeaways.

Manning wins the QB duel

Much of the pregame build-up was about the quarterbacks. After dueling for three quarters, Underwood and Manning went in drastically different directions in the fourth quarter.

Manning made his best plays late in the game, including a 60-yard touchdown run and a 30-yard touchdown pass that he floated perfectly over the shoulder of receiver Kaliq Lockett. Manning didn’t have a huge day throwing the ball, but his ability to scramble was the difference in the game.

“Arch is an exceptional player,” Poggi said. “He made some throws today that I thought were, like, ‘Wow.’ When you look at him on the field, he’s big and strong, but I had no idea he was as athletic as he is. He’s a force to be reckoned with.”

Underwood hit some big throws, including a toe-dragging touchdown to Kendrick Bell and another to Andrew Marsh. He also showed his running ability with 77 yards and a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. But the interceptions doomed Michigan’s chances in the fourth quarter and turned a compelling game into a Texas romp.

“I thought he had a great game,” Poggi said. “He just made a few bad decisions at the end. He’ll learn. All these things are learning things for him.”

Michigan hung tough … until the fourth quarter

Following their loss to Ohio State to end the regular season, the Wolverines endured a tumultuous month that included Moore’s firing, his arrest on charges of third-degree home invasion, stalking and breaking and entering, and revelations of behind-the-scenes turmoil. They were shorthanded in the Citrus Bowl with running back Jordan Marshall, left guard Giovanni El-Hadi and edge rushers Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham among those who didn’t play.

None of that seemed to sap Michigan’s motivation. The Wolverines gave Underwood the green light to make plays with his arm and his legs, and he responded by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. Underwood’s stretch for the pylon with 10:56 remaining in the fourth quarter gave Michigan a 27-24 lead, but the Wolverines fell apart from there. Underwood threw interceptions to end back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter, and Manning’s 60-yard touchdown run sealed the win for Texas.