Orange Crush: Texas, Arch Manning Dominate Michigan 41-27 in Citrus Bowl

ORLANDO, Fla. – In a battle of college football blue bloods, the Texas Longhorns left no doubt. led by a masterful performance from quarterback Arch Manning, No. 14 Texas defeated No. 18 Michigan 41-27 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to secure a 10-win season for the third consecutive year.

Manning was named the game's MVP, completing 22 of 31 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards and another two scores on the ground.

Manning Takes Command

With several key offensive players entering the transfer portal before the game, all eyes were on Manning to carry the load. He delivered emphaticallly. The sophomore signal-caller looked poised and sharp, dissecting the Wolverines' defense with precision passing and timely scrambles.

"I thought Arch played his best game of the season today," Head Coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He was in complete command. He made great checks at the line, extended plays with his feet, and was incredibly accurate."

Manning connected with Isaiah Bond for a 45-yard touchdown in the first quarter to open the scoring and later found Johntay Cook II for a crucial third-down conversion that set up his own 12-yard touchdown run.

Defense Seals the Deal

The Texas defense, playing under returning coordinator Will Muschamp, stifled Michigan's run-heavy attack. Freshman sensation Colin Simmons recorded two sacks, and the secondary held fast against the Wolverines' limited passing game.

Leading 24-20 entering the fourth quarter, Texas exploded for 17 unanswered points to put the game away. A pick-six by safety Derek Williams Jr. with five minutes remaining served as the exclamation point on the victory.

10-Win Standard

The victory moves Texas to 10-3 on the season, marking a successful transition to the SEC. It is the first time since the 2007-2009 seasons that Texas has won 10+ games in three straight years.

"Winning ten games in this league, with the schedule we played, is a tremendous accomplishment," Sarkisian said. "I'm proud of how this team fought through adversity all year. This is a great springboard into 2026."

With Manning firmly entrenched as the starter and a No. 1 recruiting class arriving on campus, the future in Austin looks brighter than ever.