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Michigan Football to Play Texas in Cheez-it Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve
ORLANDO, Fla. – The No. 18 University of Michigan football team will face No. 13 Texas in the Cheez-it Citrus Bowl it was announced on Sunday (Dec. 7) during ESPN’s Bowl Selection Show. This will be the Wolverines' seventh appearance in the Citrus Bowl and the second time the program faces Texas in the postseason.
“Being selected to participate in the 80th annual Citrus Bowl against Texas is a tremendous honor for our program,” said Warde Manuel, U-M’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “We’re grateful to CEO Steve Hogan and the entire Florida Citrus Sports staff for the invitation, and we look forward to our time in Orlando during the holiday season. The Citrus Bowl has always been a valued partner of the Big Ten, consistently delivering one of the premier bowl experiences in college football. Our student-athletes and coaches are looking forward to the opportunity to participate against a tremendous opponent and represent Michigan on this prestigious stage.”
The Cheez-it Citrus Bowl is held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The game pitting the Michigan Wolverines (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) against the SEC’s Texas Longhorns (9-3, 6-2 SEC) will kick-off at 3 pm ET. The game will be televised nationally by ABC.
The Wolverines are seeking a 10th win for the 33rd time in school history and the fourth time in the past five seasons. Michigan has won five of its last six games entering the Citrus Bowl matchup with Texas. The Maize and Blue boast one of the nation’s top defenses, ranking 13th nationally in rushing defense (101.7 ypg), 16th in scoring defense (18.7 ppg), 19th in interceptions (13) and 22nd in total defense (213.3 ypg). Edge Derrick Moore earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and cornerback Zeke Berry and linebacker Jimmy Rolder were second-team honorees. Moore led the league in sacks (10.0) during the conference season while Berry was the Big Ten’s leader in passes defended (nine eight PBUs and one interception). Rolder led the Wolverines with 69 tackles, including 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Michigan was led offensively by a ground game that lists among the best in the NCAA, ranking 16th at 213.2 yards per contest. All-Big Ten second-team selection Jordan Marshall (932 yards) and third-team honoree Justice Haynes (857 yards) led a potent rushing attack that saw a Wolverine surpass the 100-yard mark 12 times during the season. The balanced attack saw U-M gain 2,558 yards on the ground and 2,229 yards through the air behind freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. The rookie completed 179-of-293 passes (61.1%) for 2,229 yards and nine touchdowns.
U-M has compiled a 4-2 mark all-time in the Citrus Bowl, with appearances in the 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2016 and 2020 games. The Maize and Blue have earned victories against Arkansas (1999), Auburn (2001) and Florida (2008, 2016) and suffered setbacks to Tennessee (2002) and Alabama (2020).
This will be the second meeting between Michigan and Texas during the bowl season, with the previous matchup coming in the 2005 Rose Bowl Game. A back-and-forth affair between the Wolverines and Longhorns ended with a game-winning 37-yard field goal from Dusty Mangum as time expired to give No. 6 Texas a 38-37 win over No. 13 Michigan in the 91st Rose Bowl Game. Braylon Edwards led Michigan with 10 catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns to become the Big Ten’s career receiving TD leader (39). Chad Henne completed 18-of-34 passes for 227 yards and four TDs and kicker Garrett Rivas connected on field goals from 44, 32 and 42 yards for the Wolverines. Texas scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

December 7, 2025