It’s been a weird few months in Ann Arbor. If you’re looking for the most recent score for university of Michigan football, the last time the Wolverines took the field was on December 31, 2025. They faced off against the No. 13 Texas Longhorns in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl down in Orlando.
The final was 41-27, Texas.
Honestly, it wasn’t the ending anyone in maize and blue wanted. Losing that game capped off a season that felt like a massive hangover from the 2023 national title run. Michigan finished the 2025 campaign with a 9-4 record. For a lot of programs, nine wins is a dream. For Michigan fans who just watched their team go 15-0 a couple of years ago? It’s a tough pill to swallow.
Breaking Down the Last Game
The Citrus Bowl was basically a microcosm of Michigan’s whole year. There were moments where the defense looked elite, and then moments where they just got gassed. Texas jumped out to an early lead, and while Michigan tried to claw back, they just couldn't find that extra gear.
The offense struggled to stay consistent.
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We saw Justice Haynes—the transfer running back—put up some solid numbers, but the passing game never really clicked under the late-season pressure. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Texas was just moving the ball too easily.
Why the Scores Looked Different This Year
Looking back at the score for university of Michigan football throughout 2025, you see a team that was elite against middle-of-the-pack Big Ten schools but struggled against the heavy hitters.
Check out the swing in these results:
- They absolutely crushed Central Michigan 63-3.
- They handled Michigan State 31-20 (always a win that matters).
- But they lost to Oklahoma (24-13), USC (31-13), and Ohio State (27-9).
That Ohio State game? That one stung. It was at the Big House, and losing 27-9 felt like a regression. It’s the first time in a few years where the rivalry felt like it was tilting back toward Columbus.
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The Drama Behind the Scenes
You can't talk about the scores without talking about the sideline. The Sherrone Moore era ended on a really sour note. He was fired recently following investigations into some pretty serious off-field allegations involving staff relationships.
It’s a mess.
Former players like Anthony Simpson have even come out on social media saying the locker room was a disaster. Simpson claimed he was "treated unfairly" and that the coaching staff was being "blackmailed" by certain players.
Whether that’s 100% true or just locker room vent sessions, it explains why the team looked so disjointed on Saturdays. You can't win big games when the coaches and players aren't on the same page.
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Enter Kyle Whittingham
Now, the school has pivoted to Kyle Whittingham. He’s the guy tasked with fixing the culture and making sure the next score for university of Michigan football looks a lot more like 2023 and a lot less like 2025.
He’s already hitting the transfer portal hard.
Just this week, they picked up Nathaniel Staehling, a heavy-hitting linebacker from North Dakota State. They need him. The defense is losing guys like Ernest Hausmann and Jimmy Rolder to graduation and the NFL.
What to Watch For Next
The 2026 season is going to be a total reset. Whittingham is a "no-nonsense" coach, which is probably exactly what this roster needs after the chaos of the last twelve months.
If you're keeping track of the score for university of Michigan football, here is what you actually need to do to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Spring Game: This will be the first time we see Whittingham’s version of the "Maize and Blue." Expect a much more disciplined, run-heavy approach.
- Monitor the Portal: The roster isn't finished. They still have massive holes at linebacker and wide receiver.
- Follow the Recruiting Trail: With the coaching change, several high-profile recruits are wavering. Seeing who Whittingham can keep in the fold will tell us everything about the program's health.
The 41-27 loss to Texas is in the rearview mirror now. The program is in transition, but the talent is still there. It’s just a matter of whether the new leadership can turn those close losses back into the dominant wins the fans expect.