Michigan faces a program shakeup and interim coach. Texas eyes a statement win amidst Michigan's upheaval and their own CFP disappointment.
Texas didn't get the postseason runway it wanted in 2025.
The Longhorns missed the College Football Playoff for the first time in three seasons, and the Arch Manning era didn't come with an instant CFP invite.
Still, there's one last lever to pull before the offseason chaos really hits ... finish strong.
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That opportunity arrives on New Year's Eve in Orlando, when Texas faces Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT, and the vibe around this matchup is simple. It's a bowl game, but it's not a sleepy one. Michigan is walking in with talent, a winning record, and a full-blown program shakeup.
The Wolverines enter at 9-3 and No. 18 in the final AP Poll, a step forward after 2024's 8-5 campaign in their first season after the Jim Harbaugh era.
The defining storyline for Michigan this fall was the debut of Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 player in the 2025 recruiting class, taking his first college snaps under the brightest lights that program can manufacture.
Michigan's season swung like a pendulum.
It opened 1-1 after handling New Mexico State, then getting popped early by Oklahoma, 24-13. From there, the Wolverines stacked three straight wins, taking care of Central Michigan, surviving Nebraska in Lincoln, and beating Wisconsin.
Then they hit another wall at USC, losing 31-13 in a game that exposed the gap between "solid" and "ready for the top tier."
But Michigan didn't fold. The Wolverines responded with a five-game win streak to reach 9-2 and set up their annual pressure-cooker moment against Ohio State.
Michigan had owned that rivalry lately, but the Buckeyes snapped the streak with a 27-9 win in Ann Arbor, sending Michigan into bowl season at 9-3.
Now here's the edge Texas has to lean into ... Michigan's stability is gone. The Wolverines are already dealing with roster turnover, and their coaching situation is even louder.
Sherrone Moore is out, fired with cause after two seasons, and Biff Poggi will serve as interim head coach for the Citrus Bowl.
So this becomes a test of professionalism.
Texas has to treat this like a playoff game it didn't get. Michigan has to prove it can function in a spotlight game while carrying a disrupted locker room and a temporary headset.
If the Longhorns want to end the season with momentum - and give the Arch era a springboard instead of a shrug - this is the night to punch first and keep punching.