5 months ago
- Wolverines
- Published: Dec. 31, 2025, 6:59 p.m.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Biff Poggi was conscionable hoping that his distracted Michigan shot squad would travel retired and play competitively.
The Wolverines did that connected Wednesday, going rustle for rustle pinch a fringe playoff squad until nan midway constituent of nan 4th fourth successful their 41-27 Citrus Bowl nonaccomplishment to Texas.
A 30-yard touchdown walk by Arch Manning to Kaliq Lockett pinch 6:24 to play proved to beryllium nan difference, while Manning put nan crippled distant for bully pinch a 60-yard touchdown 1:19 later.
Michigan backmost Bryce Underwood vanished 23 of 42 for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns, rushing for 77 yards and different score. But he besides committed a brace of turnovers, throwing 3 interceptions astatine captious times that costs nan Wolverines points and opportunities.
Manning outplayed Underwood, completing 21 of his 34 throws for 221 yards and a brace of touchdowns while rushing for 155 yards and 2 much scores, stealing nan show successful nan New Year’s Eve vessel game.
Before those scores, Michigan (9-4) did its champion to effort and to thief fans hide astir nan past month. It was Dec. 10 erstwhile nan Wolverines’ caput coach, Sherrone Moore, was fired by nan schoolhouse for engaging successful an inappropriate narration and subsequently jailed connected charges stemming from an incident pinch nan staffer.
A coaching hunt quickly followed, ending pinch 66-year-old Kyle Whittingham formally named caput coach connected Friday. He is group to return complete nan programme successful nan coming days.
Wednesday’s crippled saw 7 different lead changes, pinch Michigan allowing a touchdown separator evaporate doubly successful nan first half. Sophomore receiver Kendrick Bell showed up early, catching a 19-yard touchdown walk from Underwood to spell up 10-3.
Andrew Marsh, nan prima freshman who emerged arsenic Michigan’s apical wideout this year, caught a four-yard walk successful nan 2nd quarter. But each clip Michigan took a lead, Texas would respond, often quickly.
The Longhorns marched 74 yards successful nether 3 minutes to necktie nan crippled astatine 17 earlier halftime. They went 80 yards successful nether 4 minutes to unfastened nan 2nd half.
Running backmost Christian Clark turned 20 carries into 105 yards and a touchdown, while 5 Texas players caught aggregate passes from Manning. Ryan Wingo led nan measurement pinch 4 catches for 64 yards. Emmett Mosley V added 5 catches for 51 yards.
Michigan, meanwhile, was constricted successful its crushed attack. Jordan Marshall, still rehabbing nan enarthrosis wounded that sidelined him past month, did not play, leaving Bryson Kuzdzal (20 carries, 82 yards) to grip overmuch of nan load.
The Wolverines were besides missing 2 starters on nan violative line, guards Giovanni El-Hadi and Andrew Sprague, and 2 much connected defense. Michigan’s defense surrendered 456 yards of full discourtesy to Texas, which outscored nan Wolverines 17-7 successful nan 4th quarter.
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Aaron McMann is nan main hit writer covering nan University of Michigan shot programme for MLive Media Group, wherever he's worked since 2014. He went from covering precocious schoolhouse sports successful nan Flint area to a...
