Well done!Manning, the biggest name in college football, was dragged through the mud last week because he laughed at an AI video of head coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe.It was a silly video.
It was clearly AI.It all stemmed from Sarkisian essentially blowing off Rowe, and ESPN, following Texas' stunning Week 2 win over Ohio State.Take a look:TEXAS COACH STEVE SARKISIAN'S AWKWARD ESPN INTERVIEW DIVIDES INTERNET DURING TEAM'S WIN OVER OHIO STATEThat moment went viral, and led to several AI-generated videos of the interaction, including the one Manning mentioned in his press conference last week.
He was asked about the interaction, and briefly talked about seeing all the reaction videos on X, including the AI one with Sarkisian slapping Rowe.Quarterback Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns warms up before a game against the UTSA Roadrunners on Sept.19, 2026, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)REPORTER FOR THE ATHLETIC FUMES OVER ARCH MANNING, SILENT ON JOSH JACOBS' ALLEGED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMANYes, it was a silly video.Yes, it was a poor choice of words from Manning.
And yes, the internet — and the virtue-signaling media — got so outraged by it, that Manning, and Sarkisian, were forced to issue apologies.Naturally, Manning returned to the podium on Tuesday for his weekly presser, and sounded nothing like the kid we saw a week ago.And I mean NOTHING:Amazing.Nineteen questions, and only 56 seconds worth of answers.
That's almost impossible to do, and Arch pulled it off.Impressive.It's right out of the Bill Belichick playbook, by the way.
Give Manning a few more weeks, and he'll be showing up to these pressers wearing a torn hoodie with no sleeves and speaking in such a low grumble, no microphone on earth would be able to pick it up.Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning answers questions from the media during SEC Media Days at Omni Atlanta Hotel.(Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images)Ob...