Honestly, if you turned off the TV with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter on New Year's Eve, you probably thought Michigan had pulled it off. The vibe in Orlando was electric. Bryce Underwood had just scrambled five yards, diving into the pylon to put the Wolverines up 27-24. It felt like one of those classic "bend but don't break" Michigan wins we’ve seen so many times over the last few seasons.
Then the wheels didn't just come off; they basically disintegrated.
The final michigan ncaa football score ended up being Texas 41, Michigan 27. A fourteen-point loss looks bad on paper, but it was actually a three-point lead for Michigan with 10:56 left on the clock. What followed was a 17-0 run by the Longhorns that turned a gritty defensive battle into a bit of a blowout. It's the kind of finish that leaves a sour taste in your mouth all off-season, especially when you realize Arch Manning basically took over the game with his legs and his arm in equal measure.
The Fourth Quarter Collapse in Orlando
Most people looking for the michigan ncaa football score are trying to figure out how a 27-24 lead evaporated so fast. It started with a 30-yard touchdown strike from Manning to Kaliq Lockett. Suddenly, the lead was gone. Michigan’s offense, which had been leaning heavily on the run game all afternoon, suddenly felt the pressure.
Underwood, the five-star freshman who has been the talk of Ann Arbor all year, showed his age for the first time on a big stage. He threw two interceptions in that final stretch. One of them was a late-game desperation heave that set up a field goal, but the real dagger was a 60-yard touchdown run by Arch Manning on a single-play drive.
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That run made it 38-27. At that point, the stadium in Orlando, which was packed with over 47,000 fans, mostly realized the comeback wasn't happening. A late field goal by Texas's Mason Shipley from 51 yards out just added insult to injury.
A Quick Glance at the Box Score
- Final Score: Texas 41, Michigan 27
- Total Yards: Michigan 373, Texas 456
- Turnovers: Michigan 3, Texas 1
- Time of Possession: Michigan 33:08, Texas 26:52
You see that possession time? Michigan actually held the ball longer. They controlled the tempo for three and a half quarters. But in modern college football, yardage and clock management don't mean much if you can't stop the big play, and Michigan gave up way too many of those in the final frame.
The Bryce Underwood Era Begins
Despite the loss, you can't talk about the michigan ncaa football score without talking about the future. Bryce Underwood finished the game with three total touchdowns. He ran for 69 yards and threw for nearly 200. For a true freshman starting in a New Year's Eve bowl game against a top-15 Texas team, he looked remarkably poised—until the very end.
The passing attack hasn't been "elite" this year, let's be real. There’s been a lot of talk about Chip Lindsey’s offense and whether it’s actually an upgrade over the old-school ground-and-pound. Michigan finished the season 14th in the nation in rushing, averaging about 210 yards per game. Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall have been absolute monsters in the backfield, but against Texas, they couldn't find the same daylight they had against Michigan State or Northwestern earlier in the year.
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Why 9-4 Feels Different This Time
Michigan finishes the 2025 season with a 9-4 record (7-2 in the Big Ten). In some years, nine wins is a reason to throw a parade. But coming off a national championship and a decade of dominance over the Big Ten, it feels... okay? Sorta mid?
Sherrone Moore has some big questions to answer this spring. The defense, led by Wink Martindale, was stout for most of the season, ranking 29th nationally in points allowed. But they got shredded for 456 yards by Texas. Julian Seyan and Arch Manning found holes in the secondary that haven't been there in years. It’s a weird spot to be in where you win nine games, beat Michigan State 31-20, and walk-off Northwestern at Wrigley Field, yet the season still feels like a slight regression.
The 27-9 loss to Ohio State at the end of November was the real gut punch. That game followed by this bowl loss means Michigan enters the 2026 cycle with a lot of "prove it" energy.
What's Next for the Wolverines?
The season is officially over. The next time we'll see a michigan ncaa football score that counts will be September 5, 2026, when they host Western Michigan in Ann Arbor.
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The schedule for next year is already looking pretty brutal. They’ve got a rematch with Oklahoma on September 12, and conference games against the likes of Iowa, Penn State, and UCLA. Oh, and they have to go to Columbus to face Ohio State again.
Next Steps for Michigan Fans:
- Watch the Transfer Portal: With the season over, keep an eye on the defensive line. They are losing some senior leadership and will likely need to plug holes through the portal.
- Monitor Bryce Underwood's Progress: The freshman mistakes in the Citrus Bowl are fixable, but he needs a full spring to build chemistry with receivers like Andrew Marsh.
- Check the 2026 Recruiting Class: Michigan's 2026 season opener remains at home, and the coaching staff is already pushing to flip a few key offensive linemen to protect their star QB.
Basically, 2025 was a transition year. It had some high highs—like the five-game win streak in the middle of the season—and some low lows. But if you’re looking at the score and feeling down, just remember: they’ve got a five-star QB entering his sophomore year and a backfield that might be the best in the Big Ten next season.