Steve Sarkisian apologizes for interview exit and Arch Manning's reaction to fake video

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has issued an apology following a controversial postgame interaction with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. After Texas defeated Ohio State 24-23, Sarkisian abruptly ended an attempted interview with Rowe, citing a desire to celebrate with his team following a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback. Sarkisian noted that technical difficulties had also delayed previous scheduled interviews.

The situation escalated when an AI-generated video surfaced online, falsely depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe. Texas quarterback Arch Manning faced significant backlash after calling the manipulated video “hilarious” during a press conference. Manning has since issued a public apology to Rowe, who has stated she accepts his apology.

During a media availability on Thursday, Sarkisian expressed regret, stating, “If hindsight’s 20/20, if I could do it all over again, I would have exuded more patience in that moment.” He emphasized his respect for Rowe and ESPN, clarifying that the program does not condone violence against women.