Newsstand: Sherrone Moore updates Michigan bowl game opt-out status

The Michigan Wolverines are headed to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to take on the Texas Longhorns on Dec. 31, but with every non-College Football Playoff bowl comes with its share of players who sit out. Determining who that is for U-M is an ongoing process.

Moore told the media on a bowl teleconference on Sunday that clarity on who will be available in the bowl game should come this week.

“These guys have finals in these next two weeks, so they’ll finish those out,” Moore said on Sunday. “But we’ll practice. We have a good steady pace of practices and some skill workout things that we have to stay within the 20-hour rules that we have to do.

“So we’ll still have practices as we go out through the week to start to get implemented in the game. Coaches will start the game plan and already have. But really, it’s going to be about getting better at football. And our young guys, our older guys, everybody is doing that. As far as opt-outs and guys who play in the game, we’ll have more of an answer as we go through the week. There’ll be guys who have already thought about it and what they’re going to do.

“A lot more playing than not playing. So that’s a positive. But we’ll have more of an answer as we go through the week.”

Tweets of the day

Home run hitter @blake_corum #ProBlue | NFL+ https://t.co/8YFKbq32K6 pic.twitter.com/qZwM02hKB8

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 7, 2025

Officially Accepted!

DL Rayshaun Benny (@rayshaun_benny) from @UMichFootball is on his way to the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl 🔥#TheDraftStartsInMobile #WherePlayersPlay pic.twitter.com/igU190M730

— Panini Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) December 7, 2025

Sherrone Moore on if Michigan RB Justice Haynes will be available to play against Texas:

"It's something we'll look at and we'll see. His progress is going well, so we'll get more of an answer and clarity as we go through this week."

— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) December 7, 2025

Michigan quote of the day

“It’s another opportunity to go play football, especially against a great opponent on a great stage. It’s another opportunity and why you’ve come to places like this. So, for us, it felt like it was important not only for the development of our coaches and our players, but just the development of the program. And what you get to do, and it’s a reward to be able to go do things like that. It’s about 20 degrees here, too. So, going to Orlando will be nice for the week, not only for the coaches, the coaches’ families and the players. We’re really excited about the opportunity that we have to go play in such a high-profile bowl game. And like you said, I can’t speak on everybody else’s decision, but it’s another opportunity for us to go play football and practice, and we’re really excited about it.”

– Sherrone Moore on the bowl matchup with Texas

Headlines of the day

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