OTF Premium What Michigan expects to see from Texas in the Citrus Bowl

[Jeff Howe]

A lot has changed since Texas smacked reigning national champion Michigan, 31-12, on Sept. 7, 2024.

The Longhorns’ romp snapped several Wolverine winning streaks, including 23 consecutive wins at the Big House and 28 consecutive regular-season victories.

The rosters and coaching staff for both clubs look a lot different ahead of Wednesday’s Citrus Bowl (2 p.m., ABC), the second meeting between No. 13 Texas (9-3, 6-2 SEC) and No. 18 Michigan (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) in 15 months. Still, interim offensive coordinator Steve Casula and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale were in Ann Arbor for the second all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Longhorns.

Casula, Michigan’s interim offensive coordinator for last season’s ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama, said during Sunday’s press conferences at Orlando’s Rosen Plaza Hotel that the Texas defense missing seven starting-caliber players and turning defensive play-calling duties over to Johnny Nansen haven’t changed his view of the Longhorns. Casula cited Nansen’s experience as a defensive coordinator (two seasons at Arizona in 2022 and 2023) and the presence of “a very, very special player” on the edge in second-team All-American Colin Simmons when describing why “ a healthy program, a deep program” like Texas remains a formidable opponent.

“Forget who the players were or what the schemes were or anything,” Casula said. “In totality, they were one of the most well-coached teams, in my opinion, that we've encountered in my time here at Michigan. Our expectation would be that we'd encounter the same thing on Wednesday.”

Over the last two seasons, only five opponents have had better performances against Martindale’s defense than Steve Sarkisian’s offense, which tallied 389 yards of total offense in the second game of the 2024 season (only three opposing offenses have topped the 5.7 yards per play the Longhorns averaged against the Wolverines in Martindale’s 25 games on the job). Even with the Texas running back room going through a significant transition (Kyle Flood said on Sunday that Christian Clark, Ryan Niblett, James Simon and Michael Terry III could all have roles in Wednesday’s game) and DeAndre Moore Jr. preparing to enter the transfer portal, an offense led by Arch Manning, who completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 1,094 yards and seven touchdowns (two interceptions) while rushing for 112 yards (4.2 yards per attempt) and a touchdown against ranked opponents in the regular season, has Martindale’s attention.

“When you had that box of cereal, and you didn't know what the surprise was? It's the same thing going against that offense,” Martindale said. “You're not sure who's going to be there, but they're going to be very talented. It's going to be a great challenge for us.”

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[Jeff Howe]

FWIW, Jordan Marshall, Michigan's leading rusher with 932 yards (6.2 yards per carry and 10 rushing touchdowns), had this to say about Texas on Sunday: "For us, watching film and breaking the game plan down, obviously, they have a lot of guys not playing, but, I mean, it's Texas. They have good players, just like we have good players. Some people aren't playing — it doesn't matter. These are two powerhouse schools. It's going to be a good game on Wednesday and it's just exciting to go against the defense like that, with top players and top guys on their team."

[Jeff Howe]

I always like hearing what the opponent has to say about Texas. Not a ton of talk on Sunday, but I like knowing what the opposing coaches are willing to divulge publicly.

[MarkInAustin]

Have you watched Michigan play this season?  What stands out?

[Cujonation83]

Michigan offensive approach is very simple. It's their running game and play action off of it. Wrs are basic as well. The key is getting Michigan behind the chains on 1st and second down. Texas's lbs will be challenged, but I think they can slow them down. Vice versa, Michigan will have to get pressure on Manning or they w get burnt.