Eli Manning warns his nephew Arch following the heated controversy over laughing at an AI video: “They’re not your friends”

Arch Manning has received some timely advice from his uncle Eli after a bizarre media controversy overshadowed Texas Longhorns ’ dramatic victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes earlier this month. The young quarterback sparked backlash after revealing that he had laughed at an AI-generated video appearing to show coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe .

Arch later apologized to Rowe via Instagram Stories, but the incident offered a lesson about how quickly a seemingly harmless joke can spread and take on a life of its own and Eli is keen to drill the lesson home. “He'll have to figure out that media on his own,” Manning indirectly said to Arch, via Front Office Sports. “And a lot of it is just kind of growing pains. “You feel like media's your pal, you relax with them a little bit, you try to be funny, and then they can take it and run. You gotta be careful.”

Arch Manning has tough night as Longhorns brush UTSA Roadrunners aside

Arch then endured a difficult night on the college football field despite Texas defeating the UTSA Roadrunners 30-6, as he finished 16-of-32 passing for 161 yards in the Longhorns ’ final game before SEC play. The sophomore quarterback did connect with Cam Coleman twice for touchdowns, but he struggled to find consistency and absorbed several heavy hits while Texas dealt with shaky pass protection. The performance came after Arch had produced a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback against Ohio State , throwing Texas back into the game before the Longhorns completed a 24-23 victory. Texas improved to 3-0 with the win over UTSA , but the quarterback acknowledged afterward that his performance was not good enough ahead of the much tougher schedule ahead in the race to the College Football Playoffs . Arch 's night included several missed opportunities, with the quarterback missing open receivers and overthrowing others while repeatedly scrambling away from pressure, with his helmet knocked off following a heavy collision in the second quarter. The UTSA defense that continued to pressure the quarterback, but it was a different story on the other side of the ball as the Longhorns ' defense continued its impressive start by limiting their opponent to 143 total yards and no touchdowns. Arch and Texas now turn their attention to Tennessee on Saturday, September 26 , with the quarterback facing a significantly tougher test against the Volunteers .