Texas quarterback Arch Manning had one of the best wins of his college career on a Saturday, and then found himself apologizing for a comment two days later. The controversy started with a fake AI-generated video, and it ended up being one of the bigger off-field stories in college football this week. Here is exactly what happened, in order.
Quick Answer
- On September 12, 2026, Texas beat then-No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 with a big fourth-quarter comeback
- After the game, coach Steve Sarkisian gave ESPN reporter Holly Rowe a brief answer and quickly walked off camera
- A fake AI-generated video started circulating that showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe, which never actually happened
- At a press conference two days later, Arch Manning laughed about the fake video and called it “hilarious”
- This caused major backlash for making light of violence against a woman
- Manning apologized publicly the next day, and Rowe accepted his apology
What Actually Happened on the Field
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, Texas pulled off a major comeback win over Ohio State, who were ranked No. 1 at the time. After the game, ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe approached coach Steve Sarkisian for the usual postgame interview. Sarkisian gave a quick response, saying something like “Texas fight, hook ’em,” and walked off before the interview could really continue. Earlier in the game, he had also missed a scheduled halftime interview due to a delay. None of this involved any physical contact. It was simply a coach cutting an interview short in the excitement of a big win.
Where the Fake Video Came From
Soon after, a clip of that awkward, brief interview began spreading online and got turned into internet memes. One of those edits went much further than a joke. Someone used AI video tools to create a fake clip that showed Sarkisian shouting and slapping Rowe, causing her to fall to the ground. This video was completely fabricated and did not reflect anything that actually took place. It was shared widely online in the days after the game.
What Arch Manning Said
On Monday, September 14, at a regular team press conference, a reporter asked Manning if he had seen any fan-made clips from the win. Manning mentioned that he had seen a few AI edits, and specifically brought up the fake video himself, laughing as he called it a good one and describing it as hilarious. Several people in the room laughed along with him at the time.
Why It Caused Backlash
A clip of Manning’s comment spread quickly on social media, and the reaction was largely critical. People pointed out that even though the video was fake, laughing about a coach appearing to slap a female reporter came across as making light of real violence against women. Given how widely known and respected Holly Rowe is in sports media, having spent decades covering major events for ESPN, the criticism grew fast.
Arch Manning’s Apology
The following day, Tuesday, September 15, Manning posted an apology on his Instagram story. He said the comment was insensitive, that there was nothing funny about it, and that he understood his words had been hurtful to a lot of people. He specifically apologized to Holly Rowe by name for what she had to deal with because of his comments, and said he needed to be more thoughtful going forward.
How Holly Rowe Responded
Rowe responded publicly on social media shortly after, thanking Manning and saying they had spoken privately about it. She confirmed she accepted his apology and said they were moving forward with respect for one another. ESPN itself declined to comment on the situation when asked by reporters.
Was the Reaction Fair? Not Everyone Agreed
While most of the public reaction was critical of Manning, not everyone saw it that way. Some sports commentators pushed back on the backlash itself, arguing that since everyone understood the video was an obvious joke and not real, Manning did not owe anyone an apology in the first place. This turned the story into a broader debate about how seriously online AI-generated content, even when clearly fake, should be taken when it depicts violence.
The Bigger Pattern: Fake AI Content Causing Real Controversy
This is far from the only recent case of an AI-generated image or video sparking a real-world reaction. We have covered similar situations before, including AI-generated images shared around Donald Trump’s stock market claims and the wave of fake AI content that spread using Dolly Parton’s likeness. In all of these cases, content that was never real still ended up shaping headlines, public reactions, and in Manning’s case, a forced public apology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Steve Sarkisian actually slap Holly Rowe?
No. This never happened. It was a completely fake video created using AI editing tools, based loosely on a real but ordinary postgame interview.
What did Arch Manning actually say?
At a press conference, Manning laughed while describing the fake AI video as “hilarious” when asked about clips from the game.
Why did Arch Manning apologize?
He faced significant public backlash for appearing to make light of a video depicting violence against a woman, even though the video was fake. He apologized directly to Holly Rowe the next day.
Did Holly Rowe accept the apology?
Yes. She posted publicly that she and Manning had spoken privately, that she accepted his apology, and that they were moving forward with mutual respect.
Is the AI video still online?
The fake video circulated widely on social media in the days following the incident. We have not linked to it here, since it depicts something that never actually happened.
Did everyone agree Manning needed to apologize?
No. Some commentators felt the backlash was overblown, arguing the video was an obvious joke that nobody mistook for reality.
