Arch Manning, Texas's quarterback, apologized via Instagram for making an insensitive joke about an AI-generated video that showed coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe during a postgame interview. The incident occurred after Manning made light of the AI-edited video at a press conference following Texas’s victory over Ohio State. In his apology, Manning acknowledged the hurt caused by his comments and specifically addressed Rowe with respect for her professionalism. Rowe accepted Manning's apology in a private conversation, emphasizing mutual respect moving forward.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 12014 · logged 2026-09-15
Texas’s star quarterback, Arch Manning, has apologized after joking about an AI-generated video that depicted Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN college football reporter Holly Rowe after last Saturday’s game.
asserted
Sarkisian → apologize → game
Manning had been asked at a press conference on Monday about the social media reaction to the Longhorns’ 24-23 upset win over No 1 Ohio State.
asserted
Manning → ask → State
Rowe had attempted to ask Sarkisian a question for the standard postgame interview, but the coach interrupted her and yelled a pair of Texas slogans before walking off.
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coach → attempt → slogans
“I’ve seen a few AI edits, that’s about it.
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that → see → it
I saw an AI edit of Sark’s interview,” Manning said on Monday.
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Manning → see → Monday
“Y’all seen that one?
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Y’all → see → one
That’s a good one.
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That → ’ → ?
Of him slapping Holly Rowe.
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him → slap → Rowe
It’s hilarious.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
His comments were met with laughter in the room.
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comments → meet → room
On Tuesday, Manning apologized with a statement on his Instagram story, calling his words and actions “hurtful to a lot of people”.
asserted
Manning → apologize → people
“In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video.
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I → make → video
There is nothing funny about it,” he wrote.
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he → 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.
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words → ’ → people
I do not take that lightly and am deeply sorry for it.
asserted
I → take → it
“I specifically want to apologize to Holly Rowe for what she has personally had to deal with because of my comments.
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she → want → comments
I have a ton of respect for her and appreciate her showing me grace in this moment.
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her → have → moment
I need to do better and will be more thoughtful going forward.”
asserted
I → need → ?
Rowe posted a response on Instagram later Tuesday, saying: “Thank you Arch.
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Rowe → post → you
I appreciate our conversation about this – which will remain private.
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which → appreciate → this
Apology accepted.
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Apology → accept → ?
We move forward with respect and kindness for one another.”
asserted
We → move → one
Evan Vieth, the reporter who asked the question in the press conference, apologized on Tuesday for describing Manning’s reaction as “gold” in a post that has more than 27m views on X.
“I sincerely apologize for how I chose to present the tweet, and I’ll be more careful going forward, especially when it comes to AI-generated content and how quickly I hit send,” Vieth wrote.
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Vieth → ask → send
Rowe has spent more than two decades as a sideline reporter for ESPN’s college football and college basketball coverage.
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Rowe → spend → coverage
She has won a Sports Emmy for her reporting and was honored by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 with its Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award.
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She → win → Award
Earlier in Saturday’s game, Sarkisian had appeared to avoid talking to ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge for the usual half-time interview.
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Sarkisian → appear → interview
Rutledge later said on the broadcast that ESPN had technical issues.
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ESPN → say → issues
When Rowe found Sarkisian after the game and attempted to ask a question, he screamed, “Let’s go, Texas fight! Let’s go, Texas fight!” before adding “Hook ’Em!” and walking off.
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Texas → find → Em
A Texas spokesperson said ESPN’s technical difficulties played a role in Sarkisian’s response.
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difficulties → say → response
The Longhorns came back from a 20-point deficit to beat the Buckeyes on Saturday and are the No 1 team in the country entering the third week of the season.
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Longhorns → come → season
The Aporia
