Texas quarterback Arch Manning is barely talking to reporters these days, giving less than 90 total seconds of answers across 24 questions in his last two media availabilities. This shift comes after a viral controversy that saw the Longhorns’ starting signal-caller facing some serious heat and now, he’s basically shut down.
From “Squeaky Clean” to Silent Treatment
Manning wasn’t always this tight-lipped. His reputation was squeaky clean until recently, but that all changed after he laughed at an insensitive AI-generated video depicting violence against women. The whole mess started when coach Steve Sarkisian blew off a postgame interview after Texas beat Ohio State, leaving Manning in a bad spot. That incident led to Manning having to apologize to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. It’s clear he’s working hard to repair his image nationally, but the approach is jarring. Now, trying to get anything out of Manning is like talking to Siri with even less feedback.
The Numbers Don’t Lie on This New Strategy
You wanna talk about brief? After Saturday’s win over UTSA, Manning faced 5 questions and gave 20 seconds of answers. Then, leading up to this weekend’s massive showdown at Tennessee, he got hit with 19 questions and only offered 56 seconds of responses. That’s less than 90 total seconds for 24 questions, folks! This isn’t just a quiet guy, this is a conscious strategy. It’s a huge week for the Longhorns, facing his Pro Football Hall of Fame uncle’s alma mater for the first time in Texas history, and it’s one of a record-setting four nationally ranked SEC matchups. Manning is a Heisman candidate who’s pushed his top-ranked team to 3-0 this season, throwing for 661 yards and seven touchdowns in the first quarter of the campaign. But you’re not getting any insight from him about it.
Who’s to Blame For This Silence?
You can point fingers anywhere: Sarkisian, the media, or even the idiocy of social media. But don’t blame Manning himself for playing it safe. One answer went sideways this month and left him emotionally shielded. The source even says, “What we get for trying to be cute by asking a 22-year-old how he felt about a viral video.” For Texas, Saturday’s SEC opener is a massive resume-building opportunity against Tennessee. Even with the media blackout, this kid has to perform.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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