The fallout from Arch Manning's postgame interview comments continues, but former ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman is shifting the spotlight—and the blame—onto the reporters in the room who laughed along.
After Texas' dramatic comeback win over Ohio State, head coach Steve Sarkisian abruptly ended his interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe. Things escalated when AI-generated videos surfaced showing Sarkisian striking Rowe at midfield. Manning, asked about those videos during Monday's media availability, made a comment that many found insensitive. He later issued a public apology to Rowe on Instagram, writing, "In my press conference yesterday, I made an insensitive comment about an AI video. There is nothing funny about it... I specifically want to apologize to Holly Rowe for what she has personally had to deal with because of my comments."
Twellman, however, argues that Manning shouldn't be the only one saying sorry. In a post on X, he wrote, "I'd rather see the apologies of all the reporters that laughed in the room. Under no circumstances does anyone think Arch condones violence on women but how come the accountability falls only on him?? Or even the person who asked the dumb question?!"
The reporter who asked the question, Evan Vieth of Inside Texas, has already taken responsibility. In a tweet, Vieth apologized for his role, saying, "Yesterday, I published a tweet of Arch Manning responding to a question of mine... I captioned his response as 'gold.' I realized quickly that I had made a mistake... I sincerely apologize for how I chose to present the tweet." Vieth also issued a direct apology to Rowe, calling her "one of the best" in the industry.
Rowe has reportedly already spoken with Manning privately, but it's unclear if she'll also meet with Vieth before Texas's next game. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about how media members handle sensitive topics and the impact of AI-generated content. Twellman's comments add to the growing backlash over the AI video comment.
Some have defended Manning, noting his age and the pressure of the moment. But Twellman insists that the laughter from the press corps was equally troubling. "The reporters in that room are professionals," he said. "They should know better. Arch is a 22-year-old kid. They're supposed to be the adults."
This isn't the first time Twellman has spoken out on player-media dynamics. He's previously criticized the way athletes are treated by the press, and he believes this situation highlights a double standard. "When a player makes a mistake, they're crucified. When a reporter does, it's swept under the rug," he wrote.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from other media figures, including ESPN anchor who fired back at Laura Ingraham over her take on the apology. Meanwhile, First Take host Shae Cornette argued that Manning must learn from this experience.
As the story continues to develop, Twellman's central question remains: Why is the accountability falling only on the quarterback? For him, the answer is clear—the reporters who laughed should also step up and say they're sorry.
