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Texas QB Arch Manning apologizes for ‘insensitive comment’ over AI video

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Nadkarni, R. (2026, September 15). Texas QB Arch Manning apologizes for ‘insensitive comment’ over AI video. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/college-football/texas-qb-arch-manning-apologizes-insensitive-comment-ai-video-rcna598000

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

NBC News · collected 2026-09-15 · by Rohan Nadkarni

Quick Summary

Arch Manning, quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, apologized on Tuesday via Instagram for making a joke about an AI-generated video depicting his coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe during a controversial interview following a game against Ohio State. Initially laughing and referring to the edited content as "a good one" during Monday’s press conference, Manning later acknowledged the insensitivity of his remarks and apologized to Rowe specifically for any harm caused by his comments. Rowe accepted Manning's apology, emphasizing respect and kindness moving forward.
Written by AI on 2026-09-15, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Arch Manning, quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, faced backlash and criticism after laughing about an AI-generated video that depicted his coach, Steve Sarkisian, slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. The incident occurred following a high-profile victory over Ohio State on Saturday night when Sarkisian abruptly left without speaking to Rowe post-game. On Monday, at a press conference for the upcoming game against UTSA, Manning mentioned seeing an AI-edited version of the interview and laughed about it, calling the altered clip "hilarious." This comment sparked immediate criticism on social media, prompting Manning to issue an apology on Tuesday via Instagram, stating his words were hurtful and expressing deep regret. Rowe accepted Manning's apology but some critics like Candace Buckner from The Athletic continued to express dissatisfaction with the incident, questioning the level of outrage compared to other issues involving violence against women in sports.

Written for “Arch Manning Apology Controversy” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Arch Manning Apology Controversy
Sports · 6 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Toronto Star
Hedges 0 of 24 claims Outlet record 64/100
The Guardian
Hedges 0 of 30 claims Outlet record 66/100
New York Post
Hedges 3 of 23 claims Outlet record 66/100
“While both articles discuss the incident involving Steve Sarkisian and Holly Rowe following the game against Ohio State, Article A focuses on Arch Manning's apology for referencing an AI video of the incident, whereas Article B is about Sarkisian's explanation for his actions during and after the game. They describe different specific moments in relation to the broader controversy.”
New York Post
Hedges 0 of 37 claims Outlet record 66/100
“Article A discusses Arch Manning's apology for a comment about an AI video, while Article B focuses on ESPN host Shae Cornette's reaction to and criticism of Manning's attitude during the press conference.”
Fox News
Hedges 3 of 22 claims Outlet record 69/100
“While both articles discuss Steve Sarkisian's behavior after a game, they describe different aspects and times within the incident: Article A focuses on his initial reaction during the postgame interview, while Article B covers his later apology or reflection.”
Fox News
Hedges 4 of 24 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles discuss related incidents involving Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian's behavior, but Article B mentions a different op-ed reaction to the events rather than the incident itself.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
31
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 31 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
60/100
NBC News's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
6
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-15 · how these are computed

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Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

NBC News · 1961 article(s) · 1 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 1 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Rohan Nadkarni
20 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
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🔮 If you didn’t set your alarm clock this morning, you may have missed the most exciting finish of the NFL season so far.
Also by Rohan Nadkarni
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 20 articles by Rohan Nadkarni →

Topics

ESPN Longhorns NFL Texas Texas Longhorns

Subjects

Manning PERSON · 9× Rowe PERSON · 6× Sarkisian PERSON · 4× ESPN ORG · 3× Holly Rowe PERSON · 3× NFL ORG · 3× Longhorns ORG · 2× Texas GPE · 2× Vieth PERSON · 2× Texas Longhorns ORG · 1×

Narrative

On Monday, Manning was asked by Inside Texas reporter Evan Vieth if he’d seen any social media videos about the Longhorns’ come-from-behind victory against the then-No. 1 Buckeyes, and Manning said he saw an AI video of Sarkisian striking Rowe.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-15
🔮 I need to do better and will be more thoughtful going forward.”

Claims (31 extracted, 0 hedged)

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning apologized Tuesday for referencing an AI video of his head coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe in the wake of Texas’s win over Ohio State over the weekend. asserted
coach → apologize → weekend
On Saturday, Sarkisian first didn’t partake in a halftime interview with ESPN after reporter Laura Rutledge said the coach had to wait too long due to technical difficulties. asserted
coach → partake → difficulties
Sarkisian was then approached by Rowe for a postgame interview, as is customary, but after yelling with excitement into the vicinity of Rowe, Sarkisian ran away before answering any questions. asserted
Sarkisian → approach → questions
On Monday, Manning was asked by Inside Texas reporter Evan Vieth if he’d seen any social media videos about the Longhorns’ come-from-behind victory against the then-No. 1 Buckeyes, and Manning said he saw an AI video of Sarkisian striking Rowe. asserted
Sarkisian → ask → Rowe
“I’ve seen a few AI edits of stuff but that’s about it. asserted
that → see → it
I saw an AI edit of Sark’s interview. asserted
I → see → interview
Have you all seen that one? asserted
you → see → one
That’s a good one. asserted
That → ’ → ?
Of him slapping Holly Rowe?” Manning said while laughing during a press conference. asserted
Manning → slap → conference
Vieth shared the video Monday, and it was met with swift backlash. asserted
it → share → backlash
On Tuesday, Manning apologized in an Instagram story. asserted
Manning → apologize → story
“In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video. asserted
I → make → video
There is nothing funny about it,” Manning wrote. asserted
Manning → be → 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. asserted
words → ’ → people
I do not that that lightly and am deeply sorry for that.” asserted
I → do → that
Manning added: “I specifically want to apologize to Holly Rowe for what she has personally had to deal with because of my comments. asserted
she → add → comments
I have a ton of respect for her and appreciate her showing me grace in this moment. asserted
her → have → moment
I need to do better and will be more thoughtful going forward.” asserted
I → need → ?
Vieth, who initially described Manning’s response as “gold,” also apologized Monday. asserted
who → describe → gold
“I sincerely apologize for how I chose to present the tweet, and I’ll be more careful going forward,” he wrote in part of a social media post. asserted
he → apologize → post
Rowe thanked Manning for his apology on Tuesday. asserted
Rowe → thank → Tuesday
“I appreciate our conversation about this which will remain private. asserted
which → appreciate → this
Apology accepted,” she wrote on social media. asserted
she → accept → media
“We move forward with respect and kindness for one another.” asserted
We → move → one
The nephew of NFL legends Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, he was a consensus five-star recruit before committing to the Longhorns in December 2022. asserted
he → commit → December
He is also a highly regarded NFL prospect, and is widely expected to be a first-round pick in next year’s draft. asserted
He → regard → draft
He is seeking to be the third generation of the Manning family to play in the NFL after Peyton, Eli and his grandfather Archie. asserted
He → seek → Peyton
Rowe, 60, has worked full time at ESPN since 1998. asserted
Rowe → work → 1998
She is a reporter on several major events, including college football, the WNBA, and the women’s NCAA Final Four. asserted
She → include → football
In 2023, Rowe received the Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. asserted
Rowe → receive → Fame
She is also an advocate for cancer research after she was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2015. asserted
she → diagnose → 2015
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