Arch Manning’s weekend took a sharp turn after Texas’ 24-23 win over No. 1 Ohio State, and the fallout has nothing to do with what happened between the lines.
The issue started with Steve Sarkisian’s awkward postgame moment. In a five-second hit, he cut off Holly Rowe, yelled “Hook ’em,” and moved on without answering the question. Texas pointed to ESPN technical issues, but the clip was already making the rounds.
Then the internet did what it does now: it made things worse. AI editors turned the moment into a fake slap video, including one version that showed Sarkisian hitting Rowe. On Monday, Evan Vieth asked Manning whether he had seen the edits, and Manning didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve seen a few AI edits and stuff, but that’s about it. I saw AI edits of Sark’s interview.
Have y’all seen that one? That’s a good one.
Of him slapping Holly Rowe? It’s hilarious.”
He added, “I saw the AI Edit of (Sark) slapping Holly Rowe.”
The room laughed. The internet didn’t.
Manning’s reaction quickly drew backlash online, with replies focused on the fact that the joke involved violence against a woman. One response read, “You need to apologize for this shit, and to say the VERY least.
And to every adult ass so called man in that room laughing along with him, fuck you.” Another said, “Gotta say, this was a very bad look for Arch.
Violence against women is still such a stain on our society that it should never be used as a joke. I’d like to hear @CoachSark make a statement and hear Arch apologize.”
Other comments pushed the same point, including, “the room full of 40+ year old men laughing with him is much more concerning than the college kid finding it funny.” One more asked, “Fake or not, when is it ever ok to condone violence, particularly towards a woman?”
For Manning, the timing makes the whole thing sting even more. He had just come off the biggest win of his career, only to find himself at the center of a very different kind of spotlight two days later.
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