Arch Manning ignites Texas's Citrus Bowl victory with dual-threat brilliance. A stunning 60-yard touchdown run seals the 41-27 win over Michigan.
Arch Manning didn't just win the Citrus Bowl, he dominated.
The Texas quarterback delivered a star-making performance Wednesday in Orlando, torching No. 14 Michigan with his arm and his legs in a 41-27 Longhorns victory that felt closer to a statement than a bowl win.
Manning threw two touchdown passes, then put the game away for good with a breathtaking 60-yard scoring run that flipped a tense fourth quarter into a Texas celebration.
Manning finished the afternoon 21-of-34 for 221 yards through the air and was even more devastating on the ground, rushing nine times for 155 yards. He accounted for roughly 80 percent of Texas' total offense and was the obvious Citrus Bowl MVP long before the final whistle.
Texas struggled to fully seize control early, but Manning consistently delivered when it mattered most.
Twice, he converted fourth downs with his legs, extending drives that ended in touchdowns and slowly wore down a Michigan defense that simply ran out of answers.
His most precise throw came on a 30-yard touchdown strike to Kaliq Lockett, giving Texas a 31-27 lead, their first advantage since a field goal on the opening drive.
One play earlier, Manning scrambled for 15 yards on fourth-and-2, a moment that perfectly captured the afternoon. When the Longhorns needed a play, the ball stayed in his hands.
The decisive moment came soon after.
With Texas clinging to a narrow lead, Manning burst straight up the middle and outran the entire Michigan defense for a 60-yard touchdown, pushing the margin to 38-27. It was the first time all game that either team led by more than one score, and it effectively slammed the door.
Michigan briefly looked capable of hanging around.
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood gave the Wolverines their final lead at 27-24 with just under 11 minutes to play, diving for the pylon on a 5-yard touchdown run.
Underwood showed toughness and flashes of promise, finishing with 199 passing yards, two total touchdowns, and 77 rushing yards.
But the game unraveled quickly after that.
Underwood threw three interceptions in the final 18 minutes, including two picked off by Ty'Anthony Smith after Texas regained the lead. Each turnover drained momentum from a Michigan team that was already navigating uncertainty.
The backdrop only added to the chaos.
New Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham watched from the box as the Wolverines played their first game since a turbulent coaching change.
Michigan leaned on its running game, getting 82 hard-earned yards from Bryson Kuzdzal, and played with edge on defense despite missing its top two defenders who opted out.
None of it mattered once Manning took control.
Texas wasn't a one-man show offensively, though. Freshman running back Christian Clark delivered a strong performance of his own, rushing for 105 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
The Longhorns did all of that without their top three rushers, all of whom are entering the transfer portal, making the production even more impressive.
Texas and Michigan combined for 21 penalties, and one of the most damaging came on a blind-side block that erased a prime Michigan scoring chance inside the Texas 10-yard line.
Two plays later, an interception followed, turning a potential momentum swing into a turning point.
For Texas, the win caps a 10-3 season with a surge of optimism.
Manning looked every bit like the future of the program, and the Longhorns closed the year with confidence and edge. Michigan, meanwhile, turns the page toward Whittingham's first full offseason, hoping discipline and stability can replace a month defined by turmoil.
Manning and the Longhorns open the 2026 season at home on Sept. 5 against Texas State.