ESPN reporter Holly Rowe returns to BYU sidelines for Notre Dame game
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe is covering No. 8 BYU vs. No.
The game brings Rowe back to the stadium where her college football career began.
Background
Holly Rowe is an ESPN sideline reporter who grew up a BYU fan, studied two years at BYU and was a news anchor for KBYU-TV before transferring to the University of Utah and graduating in 1991. After graduating she worked as the BYU football sideline reporter, and she has said the stadium is named after LaVell Edwards, who meant a lot to her and was instrumental in her career. Her return to the LaVell Edwards Stadium sidelines is her first since 2003, and it comes as she has recently been in the news over a declined interview with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and an AI-generated video.
How it unfolded
- Sep 12, 2026Texas came back from 20 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Ohio State 24-23; afterward Texas coach Steve Sarkisian declined an interview with Rowe due to technical delays, and an AI-generated video falsely depicting Sarkisian slapping Rowe circulated online.
- Sep 15, 2026Texas quarterback Arch Manning apologized publicly to Rowe, calling his earlier comment insensitive; Rowe accepted the apology after talking to Manning personally.
- Oct 14, 2026Deseret News published Rowe's comments ahead of the BYU-Notre Dame game, her first return to the LaVell Edwards Stadium sidelines since 2003.
- Oct 15, 2026Reports said Rowe got emotional about going back to BYU.
- Oct 16, 2026Notre Dame reporter Bruce Straughan posted on X criticizing ESPN's broadcast crew of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe for the BYU-Notre Dame game.
- Oct 17, 2026College GameDay aired from Provo; Kirk Herbstreit did not make a prediction because he will be in the booth calling the game with Chris Fowler and Holly Rowe. The game between No. 8 BYU and No. 2 Notre Dame was scheduled at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Rowe said the assignment left her "feeling really nostalgic" and that "My lifelong love affair with college football really started in this stadium."
- Caution
- Notre Dame reporter Bruce Straughan posted on X: "I mean seriously, was no one else available? I see the mute button will be utilized heavily in my household on Saturday Night!!"
Still unverified
An AI-generated video falsely depicted Texas coach Steve Sarkisian slapping Rowe. Straughan's post did not specify why he was unhappy with the broadcast crew.