It was a tale of two halves for Michigan in Orlando on Wednesday night as the Wolverines fell to Texas, 41-27, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to finish the season on a two-game losing streak and with a 9-4 record.
Michigan took a 10-3 lead late in the first quarter and then another 17-10 lead five minutes into the second quarter, but Texas quickly tied the game at 17 a few minutes later. Bryce Underwood completed 12 of 19 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The Wolverines also totaled 17 carries for 86 yards in the opening two quarters.
The Longhorns then took over in the second half, specifically in the fourth quarter. After Michigan scored a touchdown to take a 27-24 lead with 10:56 remaining in the game, Texas scored 17 unanswered points thanks to dominant performances on both sides of the ball.
Texas had nine carries for 99 yards in the fourth quarter, including a 60-yard touchdown run by Arch Manning. But it was Michigan's lackluster offense in the final quarter that held the spotlight, as Underwood completed just 11 of 24 passes for 93 yards and three interceptions in the second half, including only completing three of nine passes for 20 yards and an interception in the fourth quarter.
On his first of two interceptions that Underwood threw in the fourth quarter, former Ohio State defensive tackle Hero Kanu, who transferred to Texas before the season, made sure to remind the freshman quarterback of the phrase, "once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye."
Hero Kanu: Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye pic.twitter.com/rkixUyRBB3
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 31, 2025
Trailing 41-27 with 3:36 left, Michigan began a must-score drive with no timeouts on its own 25-yard line. The Wolverines proceeded to have a 13-play, 39-yard drive that resulted in a turnover on downs.
