AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning apologized to ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe in an Instagram story on Tuesday. The apology came one day after he laughed during a press conference about an AI-generated video that showed Texas coach Steve Sarkisian slapping her.
In the two-paragraph statement, Manning called his words and actions from Monday hurtful to a lot of people.
“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.”
Rowe was the only person Manning named in the statement, and he said she had shown him grace.
“I specifically want to apologize to Holly Rowe for what she has personally had to deal with because of my comments,” Manning continued. “I have 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.”
On Monday night, Rowe shared a Dolly Parton quote about kindness on her own Instagram account, BroBible reported. As of Tuesday morning, Rowe had not commented publicly on Manning’s remarks, and Texas had not issued a public statement on them, according to the same report.
Arch Manning’s Monday Press Conference Comments
On Monday, Manning met with reporters in Austin two days after Texas rallied from a 23-3 fourth-quarter deficit to beat No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes 24-23. Evan Vieth of On3’s Inside Texas asked whether he had seen any edits from the game on TikTok or Twitter. Manning had come across AI edits of Sarkisian’s on-field interview.
“I’ve seen a few AI edits and stuff, but that’s about it,” Manning said. “I saw AI edits of Sark’s interview.”
Someone in the room brought up one version in particular. Manning was laughing by the time he named it.
“Have y’all seen that one? That’s a good one,” Manning added. “Of him slapping Holly Rowe? It’s hilarious.”
Several others in the room laughed along with him. Vieth posted the clip on X at 1:31 p.m. CT Monday and called Manning’s answer “gold” in the post. NBC Sports college football reporter Nicole Auerbach wrote on X that the laughter from the men in the room was “so, so gross.”
The SEC named Manning its Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. It was his third career weekly honor from the league.
Against Ohio State, he went 23-of-37 for 196 yards and 1 touchdown. Texas closed the game with three straight touchdown drives, and each one covered at least 12 plays and 72 yards. Manning went 13-of-18 for 125 yards and 1 touchdown on those three drives. He also ran 3 times for 26 yards on them.
Steve Sarkisian’s Postgame Exchange With Holly Rowe
The AI video was built from the end of Saturday’s game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. When the ABC broadcast went to Rowe for the on-field postgame interview, Sarkisian shouted “Texas fight” and “Hook ’em” into the camera before she finished her first question. He then left to celebrate with his players.
Texas later attributed the exchange to technical difficulties on ESPN’s end, The Athletic reported. A similar issue had come up at halftime, when Texas trailed 20-3 and Laura Rutledge was unable to get Sarkisian on air before he went to the locker room. Rutledge told viewers the network would try to catch Sarkisian again on his way out of the half.
“We actually just lost Sark because he had to go,” Rutledge said. “I’m sorry about that, you guys. He waited for a long time. Credit to him for waiting. We’ll try to get him on the way out of the half.”
In his postgame press conference, Sarkisian put the 21-0 fourth quarter on how hard Texas practices in training camp.
“To score 21 points in the fourth quarter against a team of that caliber, I think that’s a credit to our conditioning,” Sarkisian said. “I think that’s a credit to our players’ understanding why we practice the way that we do and how hard practices are in training camp. At the end of practice, that’s the hardest part of our practice, and them embracing that for moments like this.”
Sarkisian did not spend long on the win itself. The first half was what he wanted fixed before conference play.
“We need to get better, because we can’t play first halves like that in our conference or we’ll be in trouble,” Sarkisian explained.
The win was Texas’ first at home over an AP No. 1 team since it beat SMU on Nov. 4, 1950. The Longhorns have won 11 straight at home. Manning is 14-3 as a starter, including 10-0 at home, and has thrown for 4,632 yards and 40 touchdowns across three seasons.
Texas (2-0), now No. 1 in both major polls, hosts UTSA at 7 p.m. CT Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will stream on SEC Network+.
