Arch Manning apologizes to Holly Rowe before Tennessee game

Texas quarterback Arch Manning apologized to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after calling an AI-generated video depicting coach Steve Sarkisian slapping her “hilarious,” and coach Steve Sarkisian said he wants Manning to remain himself as the Longhorns prepare to face Tennessee. The clip showed a fictionalized scene in which Sarkisian appeared to slap Rowe. Manning reacted to it in a media setting, then later apologized to Rowe. She accepted the apology after the two spoke privately, according to reports. The supplied accounts do not include direct statements from either Manning or Rowe about that conversation. Manning’s subsequent media appearances were described as unusually brief. At a Tuesday press conference, he reportedly answered 19 questions in a short time. Whether the controversy prompted that change is not established. Reporter Jason Page characterized the brief answers as retaliation against the media, an interpretation that has not been independently substantiated. Some fans criticized Page’s comments online. Sarkisian addressed the scrutiny ahead of Texas’s game, saying he wants Manning to be himself.