Michigan Strong at the Finish

After his mistakes helped Arkansas get back in the game, Tom Brady finally relaxed and led No. 15 Michigan to victory in the Citrus Bowl.

Brady threw two interceptions but then led two scoring drives in the final six minutes Friday as the Wolverines came back to beat the No. 11 Razorbacks, 45-31.

“I don’t exactly know why it loosens you up,” said Brady, whose 21-yard pass to DiAllo Johnson gave the Wolverines the lead for good with 2:25 left. “Sometimes you’re out there and you’re playing and you don’t want to make a mistake. But once you make a mistake, you go, ‘Golly, I’m not too successful thinking that way.’ ”

There were plenty of mistakes by Michigan (10-3), which blew a 24-10 halftime lead and trailed, 31-24, in the fourth quarter.

Still, the Wolverines won their 10th game, something that seemed impossible after the defending co-national champions opened the season 0-2.

“We wanted to finish the season strong after the disappointing start we had,” Coach Lloyd Carr said. “This team had a disadvantage in that they were always going to be compared to the [1997] national championship team.”

In the end, the passing of Brady to Tai Streets and the rushing of Anthony Thomas were too much for Arkansas (9-3).

Brady drove Michigan 80 yards for the tying score, which came on Thomas’ third touchdown run, a one-yarder with 5:45 to play. Brady kept the drive alive with a 15-yard completion to Streets on third and 11 and an eight-yarder to Streets on fourth and two to the Arkansas 38. Thomas carried on the next four plays.

Brady completed 14 of 27 passes for 209 yards.

Thomas rushed for 132 yards.