CFB Bowl Preview 2025: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

By Aaron Fletcher

Bowl season is in full swing and we will be previewing some of the bigger matchups over the next couple of weeks. This year’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will be contested between the Michigan Wolverines and the Texas Longhorns. Aaron Fletcher takes a look at the key matchups.

Where and When

Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Date: 31st of December 2025

Time: 3pm ET, 8pm GMT

Story So Far...

You will be hard-pressed to find a Bowl game with as much history as the Citrus Bowl. In fact, first played in 1947 as the Tangerine Bowl, it stands as the 7th oldest bowl game and only the 3rd oldest non-playoff Bowl game. Since the 1992 season, it’s been contested between College Football’s 2 most prestigious conferences; the SEC & the Big Ten. Meaning that no matter what, it tends to produce a high quality matchup even in the era of bowl opt-outs.

For Michigan, this will be their 7th time appearing in the Citrus Bowl with their last appearance coming on the 1st of Jan 2020, where Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines were comfortably beaten by Nick Saban’s Alabama. For Texas however, this will be their first. Texas joined the SEC in 2024, which was the first year they’d have been eligible to play in this particular bowl game with conference tie-ins.

Michigan improved on its 2024 campaign, jumping from a 7–5 regular season and ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama to a 9–3 record and 7–2 in conference in 2025. They finished ranked 18th in the AP and CFP, and 19th in the UK & Irish CFB Media poll. Despite the improvement, Michigan were often seen as underwhelming, with their record flattering performance. Interim head coach Biff Poggi led two games during Sherrone Moore’s suspension (vs Central Michigan, at Nebraska), and the Wolverines arguably looked their best in those outings.

The story of Michigan’s season, however, has been what unfolded in the week(s) following the season. The Wolverines fired their Head Coach Sherrone Moore with cause, and what followed was a chaotic search for a new man to lead the program. Their coaching uncertainty has now been resolved, hiring former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham has already met the team in Orlando, though interim head coach Biff Poggi is expected to lead Michigan on game day.

Texas began the season with national title expectations, opening as the No. 1 team, betting favourite, and led by the Heisman frontrunner. Their campaign didn’t start the way they’d hoped, with a road loss to reigning champions Ohio State in a flat 14–7 game, setting the tone for ongoing offensive struggles. A Week 5 loss to Billy Napier’s Florida side led many to label the season a bust. Texas responded by winning six of their final seven games, including victories over No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 9 Vanderbilt, and No. 3 Texas A&M. Despite faint playoff hopes, they fell short, making 2025 a disappointing but salvageable season for Steve Sarkisian’s team.

The Quarterbacks

MICHIGAN: Bryce Underwood

Detroit native and lifelong Michigan fan Bryce Underwood entered college as the nation’s top recruit in the 2025 class. Just two weeks before signing day, he flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan in a blockbuster NIL move. On the field, however, his true freshman season proved statistically underwhelming. The true-freshman completed 179 of 293 attempts, totalling 2229 yards for 9 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Adding 323 yards and 5 TDs on the ground to that tally.

That being said, Underwood has shown flashes of why he was the number one recruit in the country. Offensive playcalling and a season where his top targets often had a case of the drops didn’t help his case. Unsurprisingly, his best 2 games came when Biff Poggi led the team. He has the arm talent, the poise in the pocket and the ability to complete pro-level passes with touch and accuracy. He also has the ability to evade pressure and make things happen with his legs. It’ll be interesting to see how they allow him to operate, should he play.

TEXAS: Arch Manning

Arch Manning entered the season as the greatest QB in college football history. Well, that was an understandable conclusion to arrive at given the media narrative surrounding him. He was named the starter following the departure of Quinn Ewers to the NFL and quickly became the pre-season Heisman favourite, with Texas expected to win the National Championship under his watch.

He had a solid season numbers wise. Arch completed 227 of 370 (61.5%) for 2942 yards, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, adding 244 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground. He also added 1 reception for 4 yards and a touchdown to his stats too. Often considered underwhelming, and undeserving of the pre-season hype he was afforded, the redshirt Sophomore grew into his role through the season. Arch will be returning next season, as opposed to declaring for the draft so it’ll be interesting to see if he plays and how he performs to see out his first year as a starter.

Who to Watch

MICHIGAN

Justice Haynes, Running Back – the Alabama transfer was arguably Michigan’s best offensive asset this season prior to going out injured and missing the entirety of November. Through 7 games, Haynes had 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Despite being t-140th in the country among running backs for 2025, his yards put him at t-64th, TDs t-43rd and yards per carry was 5th in the country. If Haynes was available for November, we could be talking (at least a little) bit differently about this Michigan team. Maybe, they’d have at least given Ohio State a run for their money in The Game. He’s yet to make any sort of declaration on his future, and missing 5 games could play on his mind for at least getting some reps against a good opponent under his belt. But, he could also be looking to transfer amid the coaching change, or 5 star Savion Hiter turning up in Ann Arbor.

If he does play, he has something to prove and could be looking to make a statement.

TEXAS

Jack Endries, Tight End – Endries is considered to be a top 5 TE going into the 2026 draft despite having his worst year statistically in 2025. He’s already confirmed that he is playing in the Citrus Bowl and his involvement sparks the conversation of whether he’s looking to come back for another year, or if he could boost his draft stock before the deadline to declare (14th of January). The Junior posted 311 yards and 2 touchdowns in 11 games this season, but it can be argued that poor QB play early didn’t exactly help his case. The final 2 games of the season saw Endries connect with Manning a little more and walk away with 142 yards alone off 6 receptions against Arkansas and Texas A&M.

Prediction

Texas are 7.5 point favourites headed into the matchup on New Years Eve and that is absolutely warranted. Their roster, as a whole, is better than Michigan’s and despite the number of opt-outs for the Longhorns in comparison to Michigan, they’ve had something Michigan could only dream of. They say the best form of ability is availability, but I’d argue the second best at least is stability. Given the new coach, the chaos and everything that’s gone on – it’s tough to see a world where Texas doesn’t win the matchup. I expect Biff Poggi to try some fun football that the Wolverines can get by and make the experience enjoyable – but Texas will still be better.

Give me Texas, 38-17 winners.

Aaron Fletcher

Guest Writer

Fletch is an NFL & College Football fanatic and podcast host, based in Manchester with an affinity for staying up until 5am+ watching whatever football he can lay his eyes on.. Follow him on Twitter @LionsGuyFletch, and find more of his content at www.aawnetwork.com

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