Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning recently apologized for a joke he made about an artificial intelligence (AI) video that falsely depicted his head coach, Steve Sarkisian, slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. The incident occurred after Texas defeated Ohio State in a high-profile college football game over the weekend. The video, which was created using AI technology to manipulate real footage, circulated online and sparked significant backlash. The controversy began when Sarkisian, the Longhorns' head coach, was approached by Rowe for a postgame interview after the game. However, Sarkisian did not participate in a halftime interview with ESPN earlier in the game, as reporter Laura Rutledge had mentioned technical issues delayed the session. After the win, Sarkisian was seen yelling excitedly near Rowe but then ran away before answering any questions. This moment was later manipulated into an AI-generated video that falsely showed Sarkisian striking Rowe. During a press conference on Monday, Manning was asked about social media reactions to the game. He mentioned seeing an AI video of Sarkisian in the interview, joking about it in a lighthearted manner. The video was quickly shared by reporter Evan Vieth, and it faced swift criticism for being misleading and potentially harmful. On Tuesday, Manning issued an apology on Instagram, acknowledging the insensitivity of his comments and expressing regret for the hurt caused to Rowe. Manning specifically apologized to Rowe, acknowledging her difficult experience and expressing respect for her work. He also extended his apology to Vieth, who had initially shared the video, and both men have since taken steps to be more thoughtful in their public comments. Rowe accepted Manning’s apology, stating that she appreciated the private conversation and emphasized moving forward with mutual respect. Arch Manning, 22, is in his senior season at Texas and is considered a top NFL prospect. As the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, he has drawn significant attention throughout his college career. Holly Rowe, 60, has been a full-time ESPN reporter since 1998, covering major events across college sports and the WNBA. She has also been a vocal advocate for cancer research after her own diagnosis with metastatic melanoma in 2015.