Arch Manning Reflects on Citrus Bowl Win and Future Goals

Arch Manning had a moment to shine—and he certainly made the most of it.

On Wednesday, after Texas secured a decisive 41-27 victory over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, Manning shared that he isn’t looking to play in another bowl game in 2026. He was recognized as the game’s MVP, which is quite something.

Interestingly, he has set his sights on goals that, well, may even eclipse what his uncle, NFL legend Peyton Manning, achieved during his college career at Tennessee. “I mean, I have no issue with the Citrus Bowl, but this is where I stand,” he said playfully. “Peyton played in it twice, but I think I’m good with just this one,” he added, flashing a grin.

For context, Peyton Manning led Tennessee to two Citrus Bowl appearances in consecutive years, 1995 and 1996, winning both and finishing in the AP Top 10. But that was a different time, an era without a clear national championship game or a College Football Playoff system.

It’s worth noting that the Citrus Bowl isn’t part of the six bowl games eligible for the new 12-team playoff format. Sometimes, it seems chasing bigger dreams might be the better option.

Arch’s performance was impressive, throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 155 yards and scoring two additional touchdowns. Not bad at all for a young quarterback!

He made key plays, including two crucial fourth-down conversions—one of which set up a touchdown run for Christian Carter. This came after Texas’s top three running backs transferred out, putting a spotlight on Carter.

With this victory, the Longhorns wrapped up another successful season with a 10-3 record. Although they were preseason favorites to make the College Football Playoff, they fell short of that goal. But good news for Longhorns fans: Arch has decided to stay at Texas instead of heading to the NFL Draft in 2026, so there’s definitely more to look forward to next year!

Meanwhile, the University of Michigan is wrapping up a tumultuous season. Their former coach, Sherone Moore, was dismissed after being involved in a scandal and subsequently facing criminal charges related to an alleged break-in. The school has hired former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to take over, but there’s a lot that needs addressing.