(Photo credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images)

Before the College Football Playoff bracket was complete, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian delivered a strong rebuke of the process, well aware the Longhorns weren't in position to make the 12-team field.

That drama turned out to be minor compared to Michigan's stunning firing of Sherrone Moore for having an improper relationship with a female football staffer and the coach's subsequent arrest.

The No. 13 Longhorns and the No. 18 Wolverines are surely happy to see the calendar turn to 2026 but first they fittingly ring out the current year together on Wednesday at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Both teams went 9-3 in the regular season before their campaigns were overshadowed by outside factors. Biff Poggi is serving as Michigan's interim coach for the bowl game.

Sarkisian lobbied for his team's inclusion into the playoffs after a 27-17 victory over then-No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28.

He pointed out the team's three top 10 wins and a season-opening loss to then-No. 3 Ohio State, and even threatened to remove the Buckeyes from the 2026 schedule to make his point. But it was an early October setback against Florida that sank his team.

While the anger has dissipated, disappointment lingers at Texas over a spot in the Citrus Bowl.

'A lot of the other guys see it as a chance to compete, prove ourselves, especially being in (the CFP) last year, not being in this year, we get a chance to prove the committee wrong,' Longhorns guard Luke Hutson said. 'So I'm really excited for that, and I think it should be really awesome.'

Michigan formally introduced new coach Kyle Whittingham on Sunday, something nowhere on the radar when the month began.

Moore's arrest changed everything.

After being informed of his firing on Dec. 10, he allegedly confronted the woman at her home and was arrested. Two days later, he was charged with felony home invasion and two misdemeanors (stalking and breaking and entering).

The incident and Moore's meltdown left the Michigan program swirling in chaos.

'I was kind of stunned for a while,' Wolverines linebacker Cole Sullivan said. 'I didn't know what to think. But at the end of the day, we're still the same team. One person doesn't define who we are. I'm not going to let what happened define me. And I know the rest of the team isn't also going to let that happen.'

Whittingham is focused on preventing a mass exodus and met with freshman Bryce Underwood on Sunday as speculation swirls that the No. 1 recruit of the 2025 class is considering his options.

Underwood has passed for 2,229 yards and nine touchdowns against six interceptions while adding five scores on the ground.

He said he's looking forward to playing in the Citrus Bowl.

'Playing football is our fun,' Underwood said. 'Us playing our game, and in any way possible we can be good, that's what we'll do.'

Defensive end Derrick Moore (team-high 10 sacks), linebacker Jaishawn Barham (10 tackles for loss) and guard Giovanni El-Hadl have opted out of the game. Linebacker Ernest Hausmann (68 tackles) wasn't in Orlando over the weekend and his status is unclear. Running back Justice Haynes (857 yards, 10 touchdowns) is bothered by a foot injury.

The Longhorns had more than a dozen opt-outs. Four running backs headed to the transfer portal. Leading rusher Quintrevion Wisner (597 yards) opted out late last week to join CJ Baxter, Jerrick Gibson and Rickey Stewart Jr. on the departure list.

Texas' main ball-carriers against Michigan will be freshmen Christian Clark (131 yards, one TD) and James Simon (122 yards).

All-American safety Michael Taaffe (70 tackles) isn't playing so he can start preparing for the NFL Draft. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (69 stops) declared for the draft and is skipping his senior season. Another linebacker, Liona Lefau (69 tackles), entered the transfer portal.

Quarterback Arch Manning confirmed Sunday that he will indeed return for the 2026 season. He has thrown for 2,942 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions and added eight scores on the ground.

'I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially toward the back half,' Manning said Sunday. 'I want to keep it going. There's no reason to leave. I think I've got a lot more football left to play, and I'm excited to still be a part of this team.'

Texas has won both previous meetings against Michigan, including a 31-12 victory last season in Ann Arbor.

--Field Level Media