Arch Manning “made a mistake, and it’s an unfortunate one,” according to head coach Steve Sarkisian, days after the Texas football star ignited a social media firestorm by laughing at an AI-generated video. This whole situation has been a complete mess, blowing up online and pulling Sarkisian and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe into the fray.
The Story Behind the Laughter
The whole thing kicked off after Texas’ 24-23 comeback win over Ohio State on September 12, 2026. A fake, AI-generated video spoofed a postgame interaction between Sarkisian and Holly Rowe, ending with the journalist getting slapped in the face. Seriously. Fast forward to Monday, when a reporter asked Manning if he’d seen any online videos about Saturday night’s postgame. Manning admitted he’d seen an AI-edited clip of Sarkisian’s “abrupt interview” with Rowe. When asked about it, Manning smiled, asking the laughing and goading media members, “Y’all seen that one? That’s a good one. Of him slapping Holly Rowe? Yeah, it’s hilarious.” That’s when things blew up. The uproar online wasn’t messing around, criticizing Manning for making light of violence against women, Sarkisian for blowing off sideline interviews with Rowe and Laura Rutledge, and even the reporters in the room who chuckled.
Apologies and Explanations
Manning clearly stepped in it. He issued an apology on his Instagram account Tuesday. “In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video,” Manning wrote. “There is nothing funny about it. It’s easy to say I didn’t mean it, but I know my words and actions were hurtful to a lot of people. I do not take that lightly and am deeply sorry for that.” He made sure to specifically apologize to Holly Rowe, saying he has “a ton of respect for her and appreciate her showing me grace in this moment. I need to do better and will be more thoughtful going forward.” Rowe herself accepted the apology on social media, posting, “Thank you Arch. I appreciated our conversation about this which will remain private. Apology accepted.”
Sarkisian weighed in on Thursday, saying Manning “recognizes he made a mistake.” The coach was adamant, “Nowhere do we condone domestic violence or violence against women. Nothing in our program says that.” He added that if Arch “could take it back, he would.” Sarkisian’s goal is for them to move forward and for Manning to be the guy everyone knows he is. He also clarified his own curt sideline interviews, explaining they were due to technical issues that delayed things, making him eager to get to the locker room for scheming.
This whole episode has put a spotlight on Manning and the Longhorns. They’re set to face UTSA next in a nonconference game. Moving past this controversy, especially with Manning’s name attached, will be key for the team’s focus and reputation moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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