Steve Sarkisian spent Thursday trying to close the book on two separate Texas embarrassments that got tangled together: Arch Manning laughing at an AI-generated video of Holly Rowe, and Sarkisian’s own awkward postgame exchange with the ESPN reporter after Texas’ 24-23 win over No. 1 Ohio State.
Sarkisian didn’t soften his words when asked about Manning. “Arch recognizes he made a mistake,” Sarkisian said. “Nowhere do we condone domestic violence or violence against women.”
He said Manning understood the error, had apologized to Rowe, and had already owned it publicly. “I think if he could take it back, he would.
But he has since apologized to Holly. He’s made a public apology, and you know our goal is that we can move forward and him be the guy that we all know that he is and what he represents.”
Manning later apologized, and Rowe responded after the two spoke privately: “Thank you Arch,” she wrote. “Apology accepted. We move forward with respect and kindness for one another.”
The AI clip became part of the story only after the real one started on the field. Sarkisian’s postgame sequence set the tone: after Texas beat Ohio State, he talked over Rowe, shouted “That’s called Texas fight” twice, flashed the Hook ’em, and walked away. Before that, he had also left Laura Rutledge at halftime because of ESPN’s technical problems.
Sarkisian later said he wished he had handled the moment with Rowe differently. “If hindsight’s 20/20, if I could do it all over again, I would have exuded more patience in that moment and sat through and waited for the interview with Holly,” he said in a statement apologizing to Rowe and ESPN.
He added that he and Rowe have known each other since his BYU days and that ESPN remains a partner. “Could have definitely handled that situation better with a little bit more patience in the moment. But that obviously led to the situation with Arch and his press conference as it pertained to the AI video.”
What began as a messy live interview, then turned into a fake slap video, ended with a quarterback apology and a coach trying to put the whole thing behind Texas before UTSA week.
In Other News...
Steve Sarkisians Two ESPN Interviews Have Texas Fans Saying The Same Thing
Steve Sarkisian left Columbus with a marquee win and, for Texas fans, a couple of television moments that were almost as memorable for how they unfolded as for what was said. During the Longhorns comeback against Ohio State, ESPN caught Sarkisian in two awkward sideline spots, first at halftime with Laura Rutledge and then again after the game with Holly Rowe, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how chaotic a big road win can feel in real time.
The halftime interview never really got going because of technical issues, and Rutledge later clarified what went wrong while noting Sarkisian handled the delay patiently. The postgame exchange took a different turn, ending abruptly when Sarkisian shouted and headed off to celebrate with his team, leaving Rowe with a visibly different reaction and plenty of attention on the contrast between the two interviews. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Weighed In As Holly Rowe Faced A Heartbreaking Week
Holly Rowe had a painful week away from the football spotlight after announcing the death of her mother, Diane Buck Rowe-Gandre, and later sharing that the family held a private graveside service in her honor. Rowe described a tribute filled with personal touches, from released butterflies and purple colors to music and Dr. Pepper, offering a glimpse into how her family said goodbye while the college football world kept moving around her.
The timing only added to the unease around Texas after a viral AI-generated video depicted Steve Sarkisian slapping Rowe, coming on the heels of a real postgame moment when Sarkisian walked away from an interview with her. Arch Manning was asked about the controversy during a press conference and later apologized for his reaction, a reminder of how quickly an ugly online moment can spill into the wider conversation around the Longhorns. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Coaching Issue Hanging Over UTSA Week
A fresh off-field issue landed on Texas this week when co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Johnny Nansen was arrested Wednesday evening on a misdemeanor DWI charge. Head coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed the arrest and said the program is still gathering information while monitoring the situation, an unwelcome development as the Longhorns turn their attention to UTSA.
Nansen was not at practice after the arrest, and his status for the upcoming game remains unsettled. For a defense already in game-week preparation mode, the uncertainty adds another layer to a week that was supposed to be focused on cleanup and rhythm, not staffing questions on the sideline. [Read more 🡒]