Arch Manning hit his Instagram story Tuesday with a “deeply sorry” note, owning up to laughing at an insensitive AI-generated video. But honestly, as of September 16, 2026, the real head-scratcher here isn’t the 22-year-old’s mistake, it’s the deafening silence from his coach, Steve Sarkisian. This whole mess started after that insane comeback win against then-No. 1 Ohio State, and while Manning has apologized for finding a video of Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe “hilarious,” Sarkisian himself has said absolutely nothing publicly.
Manning’s Big Mistake and What He Said About It
Look, we all know how fast the internet moves. Manning, maybe immaturely, put himself right in the crossfire when he giggled at that AI-generated clip. It was a video depicting violence against women, specifically his coach slapping a reporter, and that’s not cool. He recognized it eventually, posting that he knows his “words and actions were hurtful to a lot of people,” especially Holly Rowe. That’s a good first step for the young QB, showing he gets the seriousness of it. But for a situation that’s landed on the New York Times and Good Morning America, you’d expect the whole program to step up.
Sarkisian’s Silence: A Missed Opportunity?
Here’s where it gets wild. Sarkisian has been completely mum on the whole thing. He hasn’t addressed Manning’s controversy, nor has he apologized for his own part in the initial aftermath. Remember that thrilling comeback win over Ohio State? After that game, Sarkisian blew off his ESPN interview, yelling “Texas Fight, Hook ’em!” and just stormed off. He didn’t even address *that* on Monday during his availability. This isn’t just about a postgame interview, it’s about leadership. The coach is letting an “avalanche of bad headlines” bury his star player when he could step in, take some of the heat, and own how he handled his moment with Rowe. He had an opportunity to take some of the oxygen out of the Manning controversy, but he hasn’t taken it.
Maybe part of it stems from an earlier incident, though. ESPN’s Laura Rutledge actually clarified that Sarkisian declined a *halftime* interview due to technical issues, but he waited patiently and apologized to them. She said they should have been apologizing to him. So, it’s not like he’s always dodging, but this current situation is a whole different ballgame.
This whole thing is a huge learning experience for Manning, a real teachable moment. But Sarkisian’s gotta protect his player’s well-being and, frankly, admit fault for his own actions. More than that, he needs to relay that Texas is taking proper steps to ensure players show more respect toward the seriousness of violence against women. The focus should’ve been on that epic comeback against Ohio State, not this mess. Right now, the ball is firmly in Sarkisian’s court. He’s got to make a move and address this publicly if he wants to shift the narrative and show some real accountability.
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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