Arch Manning woke up feeling the cheesiest. While that was never confirmed with a postgame quote, the Texas Longhorn quarterback backed up the statement. Manning led the Texas Longhorns over the Michigan Wolverines 41-27 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. We all love the Cheez-It commercial where the big block of cheese yells at his coach, “I woke up feeling the cheesiest, coach.” Arch was the head cheese on Wednesday night.
Arch may have also helped turn the tide for the SEC. The SEC has struggled, to put it mildly, in bowl season. The conference where #ItJustMeansMore has not found many bowl wins this season. The SEC entered the season at 2-6. The Michigan Wolverines entered the Cheeze-It Citrus Bowl looking to play spoiler and make December a nobody they wish to remember in Ann Arbor. Interim head coach Biff Poggi let it all hang out on Wednesday. He took a traditionally conservative offense and let Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood air it out. The Wolverines put up quite a fight and gave the Longhorns and the SEC a scare. It was a back-and-forth game for the game’s first three quarters. A couple of Underwood interceptions and the leadership of Manning proved the difference.
The Longhorns Are the Cheesiest in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Arch Manning Silences Michigan and the Haters
Texas entered the fourth quarter up 24-20, but Michigan would finish off a 45-yard drive with a touchdown to put the Wolverines up 27-24. Texas looked like it was going to falter on the next drive. The Longhorns faced third and 10 from their own 38 and were looking for a hero. Manning then scrambled for an eight-yard gain and set up a key 4th and 2. Manning once again would use his legs and scramble 15 yards for a first down and set up Texas for the go-ahead score. Four plays later, Arch would hit Kaliq Lockett for a 30-yard touchdown pass that would prove to be the game-winner. But Arch wanted more.
Texas had a key stop on the next drive, intercepting Underwood and throwing the game and momentum in the Longhorn’s favor. Arch would call the game when he raced 60 yards for a touchdown to put Texas up 38-27. Manning showed why he had all of the preseason hype entering the season. Unlike his famous uncles, Arch uses his arms and legs to propel his team. Arch finished the Citrus Bowl, completing 31 of 24 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Arch also showed how adept he was on the ground, rushing nine times for 155 yards and two more touchdowns. Those kinds of stat lines bring vindication for the young quarterback after some unfair and rather harsh in-season criticism.
FEELING THE CHEEZIEST 😏 pic.twitter.com/VcTmCLVvQf
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 1, 2026
#ArchForHeisman
The Texas quarterback had a rollercoaster of a year. He was tabbed the Heisman favorite, but an early loss in Columbus and another embarrassing loss in Gainesville sent many in the media labeling Arch as a bust. Arch kept his head down and kept working, leading Texas with victories over Oklahoma and Texas A&M, both SEC teams that made the CFB Playoff.
No doubt, the Arch Cheez-It Citrus Bowl performance will once again start the hype machine in earnest. Steve Sarkisian has changed defensive coordinators, replacing Pete Kwitkowski with Will “Boom” Muschamp. Boom is an elite defensive playcaller and will no doubt kick up the Longhorn defense. His presence will also give Sarkisian more time to focus on his young quarterback and prepare him and the Longhorns to compete in the SEC and College football next season.
Bryce Underwood’s Three Interceptions Mar a Stellar Performance
The Cheeze-It Citrus Bowl showcased two of the top young quarterbacks in the game. We gave Arch enough praise, but also wanted to tip our cap to the Michigan signal caller. Time and again, on the broadcast, it was noted that Poggi wished to keep the game plan wide open. Under Sherrone Moore, Michigan was relatively conservative and gained fame for rushing it 30+ straight times in a win against Penn State in 2024. That was not the case on Wednesday. Instead, Michigan allowed the young quarterback to showcase his arm and leg strength. At times, Underwood looked very good. He completed 23 of 42 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. It was three second-half interceptions that did in Michigan.
All eyes will be on Underwood with the Transfer Portal opening on Friday. Underwood was a last-minute flip from LSU on signing day last season. With Lane Kiffin now in Baton Rouge, anything will be possible.
Main Photo: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
