![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/02-ap26257568118510.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n Julian Sayin\u2019s last-second heave bounced around, the ball eventually landing in the hands of Texas\u2019 Graceson Littleton, sealing the Longhorns\u2019 incredible comeback over No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.\n <\/p>\n
\n It was a moment of pure joy. The burnt-orange clad players rushed the field, star quarterback Arch Manning looking wild with glee as he sprinted around the field holding up the school\u2019s signature \u201chook \u2018em\u201d hand gesture.\n <\/p>\n
\n Since that moment, little time has been spent talking about the actual game played on the field, thanks to a fired-up Steve Sarkisian blowing off a post-game interview, a little-known Texas politician making racist comments about the school\u2019s student body and then Manning (and a room full of much older reporters and other individuals) laughing about an AI video depicting violence against ESPN reporter Holly Rowe.\n <\/p>\n
\n The conversation surrounding the Longhorns this week was expected to center on their playoff chances, Manning living up to sky-high expectations and Sarkisian finally breaking through and completing an incredible comeback from the personal troubles that plagued his time at Washington and USC.\n <\/p>\n
\n The vibes should be great in Austin. Instead, the discourse centers about concerns about misogyny in the football program and the racial makeup of the student body \u2013 something no one would have predicted in those gleeful moments late Saturday night.\n <\/p>\n
\n It all started just seconds after the final moments ticked away when ESPN\u2019s Holly Rowe began to ask Sarkisian a question on the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Texas head coach had abandoned a halftime on-field interview with Laura Rutledge, which the sideline reporter chalked up to technical difficulties that cut into the coach\u2019s limited halftime intermission.\n <\/p>\n
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\n As Rowe began to speak, an amped-up Sarkisian leaned toward the microphone and yelled, \u201cThat\u2019s called Texas fight! That\u2019s called Texas fight! Hook \u2018em!\u201d and walked away. Rowe looked frustrated for a moment before walking out of frame, while Sarkisian went to celebrate with the team.\n <\/p>\n
\n It was a contentious moment clearly fueled by adrenaline and a desire to be with his players, something that wasn\u2019t the best look but was easily understandable. After an incredible fourth-quarter comeback (the Longhorns trailed 23-3 when the quarter started and won 24-23), Sarkisian wanted to spend his time with his players, not ESPN.\n <\/p>\n
\n Fair enough.\n <\/p>\n
\n But with social media being the AI-filled cesspool that it is, some people took that moment and decided to run with it in gross ways. One such AI-generated video showed Sarkisian\u2019s interaction with Rowe, but edited in a virtual Sarkisian rearing back and striking a virtual Rowe across the face while shouting, \u201cHook \u2018em!\u201d before running away.\n <\/p>\n
\n It is the kind of shameful content that strange people on the internet decide to create because they think it\u2019s funny, without considering the fact they are using images of real people who have real lives and real emotions and using those images to create something abhorrent. Social media has already allowed many users to hide behind their keyboards to say (or create) things they would never dream of if they had to interact with their targets in real-world situations, all under the guise of \u201cit\u2019s just a joke.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n And for people like Manning, a 22-year-old who has never known a time without social media or the culture around it, it might all feel normal.\n <\/p>\n
\n Manning was asked on Monday if he had seen any of AI-generated videos of the postgame celebrations. Reporter Evan Vieth asked the question<\/a>, explaining later \u2013 in a post apologizing<\/a> for referring to Manning\u2019s answer as \u201cgold\u201d \u2013 that he had asked about AI-generated videos of Manning\u2019s joyous run around the turf after the final seconds ran out.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI\u2019ve seen a few AI edits of stuff but that\u2019s about it. I saw an AI edit of Sark\u2019s interview,\u201d Manning said with a smile, using his coach\u2019s nickname, looking to his right at someone off-screen \u2013 something he\u2019d do a couple times in the next few seconds.\n <\/p>\n \n That brought a round of laughter from the room in which his press conference was being held.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cHave y\u2019all seen that one?\u201d Manning asked the room. \u201cThat\u2019s a good one. Of him slapping Holly Rowe?\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n That brought another round of laughter, though softer than the first.\n <\/p>\n \n Manning added, \u201cThat\u2019s hilarious.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n It\u2019s really not, even in the shock-and-awe world of social media where AI has let users create increasingly absurd images and videos in the infinite search for online clout, whatever that\u2019s worth.\n <\/p>\n \n Manning\u2019s comments were crass and ill-thought, a brief look into the psyche of the average college-aged athlete who sees shocking images online and chooses to laugh at them as a joke rather than consider the bigger picture. On Tuesday afternoon, he issued an apology on Instagram.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cIn my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video. There is nothing funny about it. It\u2019s easy to say I didn\u2019t mean it, but I know my words and actions were hurtful to a lot of people. I do not take that lightly and am deeply sorry for that,\u201d he wrote.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI specifically want to apologize to Holly Rowe for what she has personally had to deal with because of my comments. I have a ton of respect for her and appreciate her showing me grace in this moment. I need to do better and will be more thoughtful going forward.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Later on Tuesday, Rowe posted a reply to Manning\u2019s mea culpa on Instagram and X<\/a>. \u201cThank you, Arch. I appreciate our conversation about this \u2014 which will remain private.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cApology accepted. We move forward with respect and kindness for one another.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n ESPN declined to comment on Manning\u2019s press conference.\n <\/p>\n \n Not being thoughtful isn\u2019t a crime and everyone has said something they later come to regret. For Manning, it\u2019s a moment that he will likely cringe at going forward and hope to learn from as he becomes a bigger star.\n <\/p>\n \n What is more disturbing is the laughter in the room after Manning mentioned the video showed Sarkisian \u201cslapping Holly Rowe.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Vieth\u2019s video didn\u2019t show who was cracking up at the idea, but \u2013 generally speaking \u2013 the older and more mature people in the room should know better.\n <\/p>\n Texas\u2019 student body targeted<\/p>\n \n There is another, wholly separate distraction from Saturday night\u2019s victory that has dragged the national immigration debate and culture wars directly into the grandstands at Memorial Stadium.\n <\/p>\n \n The official account of the Texas athletic department posted a video late on Saturday<\/a> showing the student section absolutely losing their minds as Texas scored the tying touchdown, which would be followed by the game-winning extra point.\n <\/p>\n \n It\u2019s the kind of scene that highlights why people love sports: delirious joy, screaming, students jumping up and down and hugging each other \u2013 a community brought together to cheer on their team. It was a beautiful sight for basically everyone who didn\u2019t attend Oklahoma or Texas A&M, the Longhorns\u2019 traditional rivals.\n <\/p>\n \n Unless you are Bo French.\n <\/p>\n \n French, who is running for Texas Railroad Commissioner (a body that, despite its name, oversees oil and gas regulation in the state), noticed that many of the students in that particular video were people of color.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn\u2019t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined,\u201d he wrote, replying to the video on X on Sunday morning.<\/a>\n <\/p>\n ![\"Texas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/03-ap26257715114467.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"ESPN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/04-2026-04-10t050225z-1007498597-mt1usatoday28698175-rtrmadp-3-ncaa-womens-basketball-final-four-nat.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Bo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/05-2026-03-27t154340z-1302382965-rc23dkahudwb-rtrmadp-3-usa-election-cpac.jpg\")
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