Observations: Michigan’s Underwood outdueled by Texas’ Manning

Michigan’s shot squad crumbled successful nan 4th fourth Wednesday, losing 41-27 to Texas successful nan Citrus Bowl successful Orlando.

The 18th-ranked Wolverines (9-4) took a 27-24 lead pinch 10:56 remaining connected a Bryce Underwood 5-yard touchdown tally but allowed 17 consecutive points down nan stretch.

They were outgained by nan Longhorns 456-373 and mislaid nan turnover conflict 3-1. Here are immoderate observations and takeaways from Michigan’s nonaccomplishment – its last crippled earlier Kyle Whittingham takes complete arsenic caput coach.

-- After a vanilla violative crippled scheme and mediocre execution from Bryce Underwood successful Michigan’s past crippled against Ohio State, interim violative coordinator Steve Casula took nan training wheels disconnected and mostly fto Underwood sling it against Texas. The freshman made immoderate much “wow” plays but besides made immoderate very mediocre decisions. That was existent connected each 3 of his interceptions. He continues to flash his talent and was much progressive successful nan tally crippled coming (13 carries, 77 yards, 1 touchdown), but consistency remains an issue. Yes, he needs much weapons astir him, but location will request to beryllium important maturation this offseason if Michigan’s discourtesy is going to return that adjacent measurement pinch him down center.

-- Meanwhile, Arch Manning was nan complete package. He vanished 21 of 34 passing for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns – including a dime to Kaliq Lockett for nan game-winning 30-yard score. He wasn’t sacked and evaded unit aggregate times to widen plays. He entered Wednesday pinch 244 rushing yards each play and vanished pinch 155 yards and 2 scores connected 9 rushes against nan Wolverines. Manning besides was down his apical 2 moving backs and a cardinal receiver.

-- With each that has transpired wrong nan Michigan programme complete nan past 3 weeks and a caller coach group to return over, it was adjacent to wonderment really motivated nan Wolverines would beryllium to play successful this game. Execution connected some sides of nan shot wasn’t great, but nan effort was location passim nan game. Now really galore players will beryllium pinch nan squad adjacent season? That remains to beryllium seen. But interim coach Biff Poggi had this group playing difficult to adjacent nan year.

-- Michigan classed bottom-15 successful FBS successful kickoff and punt returns entering Wednesday but seemed to get a spark pinch caller typical teams coach Kerry Coombs. Andrew Marsh had respective large returns and averaged 36 yards connected his 4 attempts, giving Michigan awesome starting section position. Meanwhile, Cole Sullivan forced a fumble connected a kickoff that led to Michigan’s first touchdown. Overall, it was a measurement successful nan correct guidance for Michigan’s typical teams that had been a trainwreck successful 2025.

-- Underwood vanished 23 of 42 passing for 199 yards and had a difficult clip uncovering chemistry pinch his apical targets. Donaven McCulley was targeted 13 times and only caught 4 passes. He besides had a costly driblet successful nan first half. Marsh was quiet successful nan passing crippled extracurricular of his 4-yard TD drawback successful nan 2nd quarter, finishing pinch 3 receptions for 10 yards.

-- Michigan’s beforehand didn’t make it very difficult connected Manning. Without its apical 2 sack leaders successful Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham, nan squad didn’t grounds a sack and registered conscionable 2 backmost hurries.

-- One important affirmative for Michigan connected discourtesy was its occurrence connected 4th down. It was 2 of 12 during nan regular season, which classed past successful FBS, but went 5 for 6 against Texas. It converted doubly connected its go-ahead Underwood touchdown thrust early successful nan 4th quarter. That is particularly notable fixed nan Wolverines were utilizing 3 different starting violative lineman from past game. Nathan Efobi started astatine near defender successful spot of Gio El-Hadi, who opted out, while Brady Norton started astatine correct tackle for nan injured Andrew Sprague. Then halfway Greg Crippen exited nan crippled early, starring to Michigan moving Jake Guarnera to halfway and playing Kaden Strayhorn astatine correct guard. The results were a mixed bag. Underwood was sacked 3 times, and Norton and Strayhorn were some called for holding.

• Turnovers punishment Michigan shot successful Citrus Bowl nonaccomplishment to Texas
• Bryce Underwood nan ‘right man’ to lead Michigan, Kyle Whittingham says
• Michigan drops high-scoring Citrus Bowl to Texas: Live updates recap
• Michigan extent chart: Projected starters for Citrus Bowl vs. Texas
• New 2026 separator rusher sticks pinch Michigan amid coaching change

Ryan Zuke is simply a sports newsman for MLive.com and covers University of Michigan athletics. He writes astir a assortment of sports pinch a superior attraction connected shot and recruiting. With nan occurrence of galore Wolverines...