Prepare for renewed conversations about Arch Manning’s Heisman Trophy prospects this upcoming offseason.
Manning accounted for a pair of touchdowns in the final quarter, while Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood committed two fourth-quarter interceptions, contributing to No. 13 Texas’ 41-27 triumph against the No. 18 Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl.
Texas sealed their victory with a little more than five minutes remaining. Ty’Anthony Smith picked off Underwood, bringing the ball to Michigan’s 45-yard line. Following a penalty that pushed Texas back to their own 40, Manning then broke free for a 60-yard rushing touchdown on the Longhorns’ subsequent offensive snap, extending their advantage to eleven points.
Manning’s running contributions proved crucial for Texas’ offense earlier in the final period as well. Underwood’s 5-yard touchdown had given the Wolverines a 27-24 lead with 10:56 left, but Texas countered with a lengthy nine-play, 75-yard series culminating in a 30-yard scoring throw from Manning to Kaliq Lockett.
Prior to that touchdown pass, Manning had gained 15 yards on a critical fourth-down scramble. This play itself was immediately preceded by an 8-yard rush on third down.
Manning concluded the contest with 155 yards on the ground and two scores from his nine carries. Additionally, he completed 21 of 34 passes for 221 yards and a pair of aerial touchdowns.
Subsequent to Manning’s second rushing touchdown, Michigan possessed an opportunity to remain competitive. However, Underwood was intercepted by Smith once more on the second snap of Michigan’s subsequent possession. All prospects of a rally were extinguished.
Underwood displayed considerable potential in the initial half, observed by incoming Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham from a skybox. Nevertheless, he tossed three interceptions across four second-half drives, leading to the collapse of his, and Michigan’s, performance.
Will Manning Once More Be Considered the Top Heisman Contender?
Texas competed in Wednesday’s match despite the absence of their primary rusher, Quintrevion Wisner, their secondary receiving threat, DeAndre Moore Jr., and key defensive players Anthony Hill and Michael Taaffe, among others. These omissions proved inconsequential, given Manning’s standout seasonal performance.
The acclaimed nephew of Peyton and Eli commenced the 2025 season as a frontrunner for the Heisman award, despite having a restricted presence during Texas’ 2024 campaign. In that previous season, his starts were solely due to Quinn Ewers’ oblique muscle injury, and he himself stated prior to the current season that his on-field contributions were insufficient to merit Heisman favoritism.
It is reasonable to assert that the 2025 year presented inconsistencies. Manning recorded 170 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Texas’ Week 1 defeat against Ohio State. Across Texas’ initial five matchups, Manning tallied five interceptions, leaving the Longhorns with a 3-2 record after a loss to Florida.
His performance significantly improved throughout the latter half of the season. Manning completed 12 touchdown passes and incurred only two interceptions during Texas’ concluding six regular-season contests, concurrently adding three rushing touchdowns within that period.
Texas secured victories in six of their last seven outings, although a decisive 35-10 defeat to Georgia on November 15th definitively extinguished their aspirations for a College Football Playoff berth.
With Manning returning for the 2026 campaign, Texas is also poised to be a contender for the national championship. However, considerable alterations are anticipated in Austin. Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has already adjusted the defensive coordinator position, with former Florida and South Carolina coach Will Muschamp slated to join for 2026. Furthermore, the Longhorns are expected to be busy in the transfer market. Texas faced difficulties in their ground game for the second consecutive season, and their offensive line experienced periods of suboptimal performance, particularly in the initial stages.
Michigan Approaches 2026 Under New Coaching Leadership
Whittingham was officially presented as the Wolverines’ new head coach this past Saturday, having been appointed to succeed Sherrone Moore. The veteran coach from Utah now stands as the team’s third head coach in four years, following Jim Harbaugh’s move to the Los Angeles Chargers after the 2023 national championship season and Moore’s brief period in charge.
The prior offensive coordinator for UM was terminated with justification in early December, following Michigan’s discovery of evidence indicating an unsuitable connection with a staff member. Soon after his dismissal, Moore reportedly visited the staffer’s home and was subsequently indicted for felony home invasion and two misdemeanor offenses days later.
Whittingham dedicated 21 years to Utah, holding the distinction of being the second-longest serving coach in college football prior to his announcement of retirement at the conclusion of the regular season. His initial formidable task at Michigan involves promptly securing the commitment of as many current players as possible before the transfer portal commences on January 2nd, concurrently assembling his coaching team, and preserving the Wolverines’ highly-ranked top-15 recruiting class.
