Gallery: Michigan falls to Texas in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to close out 2025
Michigan fell to Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, capping the 2025 season and setting the stage to turn the page to a new era under Kyle Whittingham.
Michigan's 2025 season came to a close on Wednesday in a New Years Eve loss to Texas, 41-27, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Playing under interim head coach Biff Poggi following the scandalous ouster of Sherrone Moore in early December, the Wolverines played a close first half with the Longhorns before letting the game slip late in the second. Michigan finishes the year 9-4 and now enters the Kyle Whittingham era in Ann Arbor.
But before fully turning the page, enjoy the best sights from Wednesday in Orlando, from the lens of Rachel Leggett, shooting the game for Mitten Football.
Dig in!
The game began with a back-and-forth first half, as both offense and defenses settled in after about a month off. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan WR Kendrick Bell — Ronnie's younger brother — made maybe the most impressive play of the day with his toe-tap touchdown. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Which deserved some celebration after the TD got called on review. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the Longhorns offense had answers, too, matching Michigan as both teams scored 17 points in the first half. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan turned to a familiar place it has all year for some change of pace: Bryce Underwood's legs. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And while he got run out of bounds on this play, he'd score a rushing touchdown in the second half to give Michigan a 27-24 lead. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Andrew Marsh, however, did find the end zone in the first half, taking a short route and running to the pylon and reaching the ball across. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Texas used QB Arch Manning's legs, too, as he evaded Michigan defenders all afternoon. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And containing Manning proved to be a difficult task for the Wolverines. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)A bad snap presented an opportunity for the Michigan defense to snag a turnover. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Manning managed to corral the ball. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Though he took some umbrage with getting hit as he did going for the ball. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)As the game wore on into the second half, the physicality and intensity picked up. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan TE Zack Marshall absorbs a big hit from a Texas defender. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan was again without top two backs Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, putting much of the rushing work on the shoulders of Bryson Kuzdzal. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Wideout Donaven McCulley had a bit of a quiet game, but made some impressive catches down the field. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan remained unafraid to let Underwood run the ball. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And he got plenty of blocking from linemen and tight ends, like Jalen Hoffman, pictured here. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Linebacker Jimmy Rolder drags down a pass catcher in the open field. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)TJ Metcalf Jr. plugs a Texas receiver after the catch. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Marsh had a strong day, in part as a receiver but especially as a kick returner. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Tight end Marlin Klein took a punishing hit that somehow didn't get reviewed for targeting. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Klein, ultimately, was OK after the hit. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)As the second half started to get down to the business end, the Longhorns started to crank it up. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And a few late Underwood interceptions — the first shown here — scuttled any chance of a Michigan win. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But it did start the celebration for Texas. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Wolverines did manage to hold on defense, courtesy of this Jaden Mangham tackle for loss on third down. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Mangham celebrated the big play right away. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Back on offense, though, the Wolverines didn't muster much. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Running back Micah Ka'apana served as the No. 2 back for Michigan on Wednesday. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)DB Jordan Young (ground) made a few nice plays, as the Wolverines let some younger defenders get extended run. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Young makes a tackle on Manning in space. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Manning's legs caused far more harm to Michigan than negative plays. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)McCulley makes a high-point catch down the sideline. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)After another Underwood interception, the result started to become academic. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And when Manning ran in untouched to put Texas up, 41-27, the result felt final. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Which Manning knew, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And for the Longhorns, the celebrations could really begin. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)That included the sideline, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The requisite Cheez-It bath for Steve Sarkisian, the victorious head coach. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And some Cheez-It eats — this a crusted turkey leg — on offer for the victorious Longhorns. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)As game MVP, Manning got the royal treatment on the dais. The turkey leg made it on stage, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Manning got to hang with the Cheez-It royal court, and got crowned by Prince Cheddward. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The whole Cheez-It spectacle was a sight to behold. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Prince Cheddward feeds Texas DE Colin Simmons some of the snack crackers from his scepter. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Cheez-It jester also helped mark the occasion. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Sarkisian got crowned, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And the confetti eventually rained as the burnt orange reined, as they can claim they woke up feeling the cheesiest. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
