Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe completed a pregame interview at Neyland Stadium that proceeded without the disruption of their previous encounter. The exchange took place before the matchup between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee, following a postgame incident after Texas' 24-23 comeback win over Ohio State where Sarkisian ran from Rowe as she attempted to interview him. Rowe referenced Arch Manning's Hall of Fame uncle, Peyton Manning, and noted that members of the Manning family have performed well at Neyland Stadium before asking Sarkisian how he instructed Arch to make the game his own.
Sarkisian told ESPN that this was Arch's moment to enjoy the game with his teammates. He emphasized that while the team has played well all year, their success depends on playing together as a unit rather than focusing solely on one player. Rowe responded by thanking the coach, and Sarkisian acknowledged her thanks as he walked back toward his sideline.
The previous postgame interaction gained significant attention after video of the incident circulated online. Peyton Manning was asked about the viral videos following Texas' victory against Ohio State. He pointed to an AI-generated video depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe, a remark that drew laughter from those present. Manning has since apologized for his comments.
Sarkisian explained that ESPN was dealing with delays during the postgame period and that he wanted to celebrate with his team. The Texas coach stated he has a "great relationship" with Rowe that dates back to his playing days at BYU. He expressed hope that he will be interviewed by Rowe on the field after a Longhorns victory on Saturday. At the time of writing, Texas led Tennessee 7-3 in the first quarter.