“You can’t spell Citrus without UT.” That was a favorite chirp from the Old Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier about the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee won’t be playing in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl this year; the other UT in the SEC will: the Texas Longhorns. So, why make the OBC joke? Texas quarterback (phenom) Arch Manning said at the press conference this week that he spoke with his grandfather, Archie, over the Christmas break about his uncle Peyton playing in several Citrus Bowls. The younger Manning shared how it was an honor to play in the same game as Uncle Peyton. Never good, when you have to explain a joke…
Arch and the Horns will face the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverine program is a blue blood in college football, but can’t seem to get out of its own way and is seemingly always clouded in controversy. Michigan will have a new head coach heading into 2026, but will be coached by a guy named Biff who has an aversion to sleeves in the Cheese-It Citrus Bowl. If that doesn’t have you feeling the cheesiest, we’re not sure we can help you. Let’s take a closer look at each team before we give you our prediction.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Preview: Michigan vs. Texas
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Game Details
Matchup: Texas Longhorns vs. Michigan Wolverines
History: Texas leads the series 2-0.
Last Meeting: The Longhorns defeated the Wolverines 31-12 in Ann Arbor in 2024.
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 31st | 3:00 PM EST
Location: Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Florida
Television: ABC
Spread: #HookEm – 7.5
2025 Season Recap
Texas won the 2025 preseason. The Longhorns came in ranked #1 in the nation and the favorites to win the SEC and National Championship. Arch was a Heisman favorite, despite really never showing he could be “the guy” against stronger competition. Instead, Texas stumbled out of the gate in Columbus against Ohio State and then fell completely out of the Top 25 after a loss in Gainesville to the Gators. And Arch? He was labeled a bust. A true sign of a program is not how far they fall, but how they bounce. Texas bounced back to a 9-3 record and knocked off rivals and CFB Playoff teams Oklahoma and Texas A&M. They made an argument for inclusion in the Playoff, but it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, the Horns head to Orlando to look for double-digit wins for the third straight season under Steve Sarkisian.
Michigan entered 2025 two years removed from winning a national championship. Sherrone Moore had the biggest coup of the offseason when he flipped #1 quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood to skip the bayeaux and head to Ann Arbor. Michigan was still dealing with offseason issues (sensing a theme?) related to the Connor Stallions’ spygate issues, forcing Moore to sit out two games this season. Michigan was 9-3 on the season overall. They lacked a true signature win and got waxed by both Oklahoma and Ohio State in their only meaningful games this season. What college football and the Wolverines didn’t expect was for the cheesiest part of the season to come in December.
Culture of Dysfunction in Ann Arbor
In December, Moore was fired for cause from his position as Michigan’s head coach after an internal investigation found credible evidence that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Following his dismissal, Moore was arrested and charged with felony home invasion and stalking after allegedly entering the woman’s home and making threats. The university has since hired an outside law firm to conduct a comprehensive “cultural evaluation” of the entire athletic department. An absolute dumpster fire for a program that branded itself the “Leaders and Best.”
Interim head coach Biff Poggi provided a blunt assessment of the program’s state during a press conference just before Christmas. Poggi described Michigan as a “malfunctioning organization” for the last five years, where “there’s something every year.” Keep in mind that Poggi was consigliere to both Jim Harbaugh and Moore for three of those five years.
Michigan, though, made the coup of the coaching carousel. Unable to convince Kalen DeBoer or Kenny Dillingham to come to Ann Arbor, the school announced on Sunday that it was hiring Kyle Willingham from Utah. Willingham is one of the most respected coaches in college football and has topped many of Last Word’s coaching rankings. He is not a “Michigan Man” and even counts Urban Meyer among his closest friends. Questions still remain about the future of the Michigan administration and whether/if Willingham can level up his NIL/Transfer Portal game at Michigan. On the surface, the move brings stability.
Sark Goes Boom in Austin
9-3 was a good year, but good is the enemy of great. Sark and Texas AD Chris Del Conte want to bring a national championship in football to Austin. In December, Sark decided to make a change at defensive coordinator. He announced the return of Will Muschamp, who previously served as Texas’s defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2010. Sarkisian explained that the move was necessary to take the defense “to another level.” To add salt to the wound, Sark also said he had spent too much time “babysitting the defense” and needed the time to focus on Arch and the offense.
Muschamp is one of the elite defensive coordinators in the game. He has been in an on-field and analyst role in Athens for the last few years and is one of the most critical people in Kirby Smart’s circle. He replaces PeteKwiatkowski, who was no slouch in the five years he was in Austin. Kwiatkowski inherited one of the worst defenses in school history in 2021 (ranked 100th nationally). By 2024, he had turned them into an elite unit that ranked 3rd in the FBS in total defense, leading the nation in takeaways and producing multiple All-Americans. Sure, the Longhorns took a step back in 2025, but the move to replace PK was a shock.
Who wins the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl?
We told you that you might be feeling the cheesiest after all that December drama in Austin and Ann Arbor. Both sides will have players opt out and set their sights on more dollars through the Transfer Portal. Michigan has been an emotional mess that could either galvanize this team or tear them apart. We look for something in between Arch and the Horns stay hot and get to 10 wins.
Texas 24
Michigan 13
