Arch Manning isn’t losing sleep over the online storm that followed Steve Sarkisian’s postgame run-in with Holly Rowe.
The Texas quarterback laughed while talking about the viral moment during a press conference, saying, “I saw the AI Edit of (Sark) slapping Holly Rowe,” Manning said as he laughed. That line came after Sarkisian drew heavy backlash in the immediate aftermath of Texas’ 24-23 comeback win over No. 1 Ohio State.
The scene on the field was pure chaos. After the Longhorns finished off the upset, Rowe caught Sarkisian for a standard postgame interview, only for the Texas coach to cut her off before she could even get through her first sentence.
“That’s called Texas fight! Hook ’em,” he loudly shouted directly into the camera lens.
Then he bolted to celebrate with his players, leaving Rowe visibly frustrated behind him.
Manning’s reaction suggests the team is more focused on the win than the noise around it. And it was a big one.
Texas, ranked No. 4, pulled off a historic rally after trailing 23-3 against the top-ranked Buckeyes. The Longhorns erased the deficit with three straight touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, the largest fourth-quarter comeback ever against a No. 1 team.
Manning had a rough start against Ohio State’s defense, but he finished with 23 completions on 37 attempts for 196 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He kicked off the comeback with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo.
“I always knew we were going to be in it in the end,” Manning stated following the victory.
The win pushed the undefeated Longhorns to No. 1 in the updated AP poll.
In Other News...
Arkansas Just Showed Its Hand In A Key Georgia Week Decision
Ryan Silverfields first Week Three depth chart for the Georgia game offered a pretty clear snapshot of where Arkansas stands heading into a major early test. On the defensive and special teams sides, nothing changed, while the offense featured only minor tweaks as the Razorbacks kept junior quarterback KJ Jackson in the starting role. For a team trying to settle into a rhythm, the message from the top of the chart was less about surprise and more about continuity.
The full listing also serves as a reminder of how much of this week will come down to execution rather than experimentation. Arkansas is sticking with the same broad lineup it has been leaning on, and the staffs decision-making on offense suggests it is comfortable letting Jackson keep steering the unit for now. With Georgia on deck, the Razorbacks are choosing stability over shuffle, and that alone says plenty about how they view the matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Already Has A KJ Jackson Question It Can't Ignore
Through two games, KJ Jackson has given Arkansas plenty to sort through at the most important spot on the field. The quarterback has worked through accuracy and confidence issues, and his line so far reflects the uneven start: 38 completions on 69 attempts for 406 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. With the offense still finding its footing, the conversation around the position has started to shift from early-season growing pains to something a little more urgent.
Backup AJ Hill only saw limited action, but even that was enough to add another layer to the discussion around the depth chart. Sam Pittman has already said the offense needs to improve across the board, pointing to the offensive line and the receivers after the loss to Utah, and the quarterback situation now sits right in the middle of that larger fix. For Arkansas, the question is no longer just how Jackson responds, but whether the Razorbacks can afford to let the competition at quarterback linger for long. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Opens SEC Play With Ryan Silverfield Under Unwanted Scrutiny
Georgias SEC opener brings an extra layer of attention this week, with Arkansas under new head coach Ryan Silverfield and the spotlight shifting quickly from the matchup itself to the coach on the other sideline. Silverfield, who arrived in Fayetteville after his run at Memphis, has already been pulled into a conversation he probably would have preferred to avoid, one tied to a controversial comment he made about Georgia player arrests while he was with the Tigers.
Kirby Smart has largely tried to close the book on it, brushing the matter off as much ado about nothing, while Silverfield used SEC Media Days to express respect for Smart and explain what he meant. Still, with the Bulldogs opening conference play against an Arkansas team trying to establish a new identity, the on-field stakes are already high enough without the added scrutiny hanging over the week. [Read more 🡒]