2025 Citrus Bowl preview: No. 18 Michigan looks to rise above turmoil against No. 13 Texas

On the last day of 2025, the N0.13 Texas Longhorns and No. 18 Michigan Wolverines will face off in the final chapter of their season as both teams head to Orlando for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in significantly different places than in the regular season and with plenty of opportunity for a statement victory as they look forward to next season.

With the termination of head coach Sherrone Moore for cause after an investigation into his longtime affair with a staffer and the recent hiring of former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, the focus on the Michigan football program has been far from the field over the last few weeks. With the coaching change, transfer window, and opt outs, the Wolverines will be missing between 12 and 15 players, according to interim head coach Biff Poggi on Tuesday.

En route to Orlando, Michigan relied heavily on a potent rushing attack and stingy defense — the Wolverines are 15th in the nation with an average of 213.2 yards per game on the ground while surrendering just 18.7 points per contest. Their three losses came at the hands of Oklahoma, USC, and Ohio State, so make no mistake, this Michigan team is talented and tough.

While the game plan for the Wolverines remain relatively unknown given Moore’s firing and the departure of offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, here’s a preview of what Longhorn fans may see on Wednesday.

Offense

After Lindsey’s departure, Steve Casula is the interim offensive coordinator and play caller, a familiar role for Casula. Last year, he stepped in as the interim play caller during the ReliaQuest Bowl, a game in which Michigan defeated Alabama. While Casula is far from the first option, his experience last year will undoubtedly aid his ability to steer the offense.

Quarterback

Helping Casula lead the offense is freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. A strong, highly-talented signal caller, Underwood was the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2024. After switching his commitment from LSU, Underwood signed with Michigan and won the starting job in preseason camp.

In his first year of college football, Underwood completed 179-of-293 passes (61.1 percent) for 2,229 yards and nine touchdowns against six interceptions. With the style of football that the Wolverines played, Underwood was rarely forced to lead the way with his arm. Particularly in the red zone, Underwood’s biggest job was often handing the ball off or keeping it himself.

Listed at 6’4, 228 pounds, Underwood is a unit. He can shake off would-be pass rushers and carry the ball effectively, running 74 times for 323 yards and five touchdowns this season.

As a whole, Underwood has underperformed compared to the lofty expectations that preceded the season. At just 18 years old, he remains a raw prospect that will likely develop into a productive quarterback, but he was unable to consistently perform at a high level throughout the season.

Stopping the ground game will be the top priority for the Texas defense, but stopping No. 19 in maize and blue is a close second.

Running back

The running back combo that Michigan possesses is arguably the best in college football, but don’t expect to see the starter — before going down with an injury, junior Justice Haynes was the premier back after spending two seasons at Alabama.

Despite playing in only seven games, Haynes rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on a whooping 7.1 yards per carry. After having foot surgery in October, it’s unclear whether he will be cleared to play, but recent reports suggest it is unlikely.

The injury to Haynes allowed sophomore Jordan Marshall to emerge as a star. The 5’11, 216-pound back from Cincinnati carried the ball 150 times for 932 yards (6.2 YPC) and 10 touchdowns while averaging a hair under 130 yards per game and notching five touchdowns in the three contests without Haynes.

Marshall is an all-around back with size, power, and quickness. He’s skilled between the tackles and will make defenders miss in multiple ways. Stopping the Wolverine offense starts with stopping him.

Wide receiver and tight end

The Michigan pass-catching room isn’t particularly deep and hasn’t been forced to step up given the potent ground game. However, true freshman Andrew Marsh has established himself as a premier talent down the stretch while veteran Donovan McCulley is a reliable WR2. Leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, the duo is well balanced and gives Underwood two viable targets.

Marsh emerged as one of the most talented receivers in the Big 10 despite just one catch in the first four games. In conference play, the Katy product had just 16 yards less than Ohio State wide out Jeremiah Smith. With excellent hands and a knack for getting open, Marsh is a threat in the aerial attack.

At 6’5, 215 pounds, McCulley is a big-bodied receiver with natural athleticism. Since switching positions from quarterback, McCulley has established himself as a high-point specialist with a large catch radius.

The tight end position isn’t a huge threat in the passing attack, but is used heavily in the run game. Senior Marlin Klein has caught 20 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown. At 6’6, 250 pounds, Klein is more than capable as a blocker.

Offensive line

The offensive line for Michigan is stout, albeit young. Recognized as semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, this group knows how to carve holes in the run game and protect the passer despite coming into the year with limited experience together and a host of injuries that forced unexpected underclassman into key roles.

The shuffling around was aided by some veterans in the interior, but the Wolverines will be without one of them on Wednesday, guard Giovanni El Hadi, one of the opt outs. Losing El Hadi is a blow for the Wolverines. A captain and veteran, this once again puts the onus on another lineman to step up.

Throughout the season, redshirt freshman Andrew Sprague, Jake Guarnera, and Blake Frazier have been up to the challenge. Guarnera had a strong campaign, ranking 41st out of 179 P4 guards in run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus.

As a whole, the group has been highly effective and is a key part of the Michigan offense. If the Longhorn front seven can disrupt the Wolverine offensive line, things swing in favor of Texas.

Defense

As mentioned, the Michigan defense was a strong point during the season. Their ability to stop the run was particularly stout. The defense ranks 14th in the nation in run defense, allowing just 101.7 yards per game, although the front seven will be taking the biggest hit in terms of missing players.

The team’s two best edge defenders have both opted out in preparation for the NFL Draft — sack leader Derrick Moore totaled double-digit sacks while Jaishawn Barham contributed four, second most on the team. The status of captain and second-leading tackler Ernest Hausman is also unknown. He missed time due to a thumb injury and a personal matter, and was not with the team for their first practice in Orlando.

Texas’ ability to attack the missing gaps is crucial for success on offense.

Defensive line

Senior EDGE TJ Guy will be a crucial player for the Michigan defensive line. A disappointing senior campaign for Guy included a decrease in tackles and sacks compared to a year ago, but the production missing from the bowl requires him to step up.

Junior EDGE Cameron Brandt and freshman Nate Marshall will be two other players to monitor. Brandt has shown flashes during the year and will be called upon more frequently while Marshall has seen limited snaps, but been highly productive. A former top-100 recruit, Marshall is a player that will undoubtedly look to shine in the bowl game to captivate a promising freshman season.

At the interior spots, senior Rayshaun Benny and junior Trey Pierce plug gaps and can make plays. Benny has contributed 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and swatted two passes while Pierce has added 29 tackles.

Collectively, the Michigan defensive line was stout during the year, but will be missing two key pieces when it comes to rushing the passer.

Linebacker

The gem of the linebacker room is senior Jimmy Rolder. A Butkus Award semifinalist, Rolder has put together an impressive campaign this year, leading the team in tackles with 69 and contributing two sacks, an interception, and a recovered a fumble. Rolder is type of player that sets the tone for the Wolverines.

With the likely absence of Hausmann, more responsibility will fall on the shoulders of sophomore Cole Sullivan, who missed about a month during the middle of the season, but has shown a knack for getting to the quarterback when given the chance. He’s tallied two sacks this year and will likely be the face of the defense next season.

To put it succinctly, the Wolverine linebacker crew will likely be missing it’s heart and soul in Hausmann, but Rolder and Sullivan will still be formidable.

Secondary

The Michigan secondary has been susceptible to big plays, but is relatively talented, particularly at safety. Texas should be able to capitalize on this, despite the lack of respect that the running game will garner and the departure of wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr.

Starting safety TJ Metcalf is a disruptor on the backend. Since transferring from Arkansas, Metcalf established himself as hard hitter while beating out former starters and talented underclassmen. Fellow safety Brandyn Hillman is the other starter and has contributed across the board. Hillman and Metcalf have combined for 99 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble. They don’t generate a ton of turnovers, but can tackle well.

At corner, senior Zeke Berry is the go-to-guy. A year after notching nine passes defended and two interceptions while starting every game, Berry followed it up with 10 passes defended and an interception. Boasting elite athleticism, he will be a primary cover guy for Michigan.

His partner in crime is Jyaire Hill, who also boasts a year of experience and has excelled at disrupting opposing offenses. He’s tallied 33 tackles, five passes defended, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception.

As a whole, this unit possesses the athleticism and capability to excel, but has struggled at times during the year. I expect Texas to challenge the Michigan secondary with a healthy dose of tackling in space and deep shots.

Special teams

Handling place kicking duties is senior Dominic Zvada. He’s perfect on extra points, but connected on just 15-of-22 field goal attempts including four misses from inside 40 yards. He hit a game-winning kick against Northwestern. The punter for the Wolverines is Hudson Hollenbeck. He’s averaged 42.97 yards per punt and has downed 10 punts inside the 20.

Previously mentioned freshman phenom Andrew Marsh handles punt return duties alongside Semaj Morgan, but neither have broken off a return longer than 14 yards. Marsh is a little more elusive on kickoff returns with an average of 19.6 yards per return including a long of 39 yards.

Michigan comes into the contest in a whirlwind that shocked the entire college sports world. With so much outside noise and changing parts, it’s tough to predict how the Wolverines will play come Wednesday. But, the decision for so many players to stick it out and compete suggests that the locker room may be stronger than most people realize.

For the Longhorns to come out victorious, keeping a lid on the running game and Marsh is critical. If Underwood is forced into obvious passing situations, advantage Texas. On the other side of the ball, the Michigan pass rush is hurting, but the unit is still strong. Capitalizing on big plays, negating penalties, and finishing drives will be crucial if the Longhorns hope to reach double digit wins.