Arch Manning Won’t Be in EA Sports College Football 25, and Fans Have Strong Opinions

The Texas Longhorns quarterback has divided fans with his decision not to be included in the rebooted video game franchise.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning made ripples this week when he decided not to opt into EA Sports’s upcoming video game, College Football 25.

Manning’s choice to stay out of the highly anticipated game turned him into something of a black sheep in the college football world. EA Sports announced Monday that more than 10,000 of the roughly 11,000 eligible players already have opted to be included in the game, a decision which earns each athlete $600 and a free copy of the game as compensation.

So, what’s not to like about being included in the video game? 

Manning told Rivals reporter Anwar Richardson that he is “focused on playing football on the field,” a reason that elicited some wild reactions from fans and observers on social media.

This is why I'm so glad I retired. Inclusion in video games is exhausting. You have no idea what it's like to be on call anytime someone picks up a controller. https://t.co/vrWGxVB6kt

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) March 5, 2024

Manning family saw that 71 OVR and said, “not our boy” https://t.co/2UFcbXLccD

— Colton Denning (@Dubsco) March 5, 2024

Arch Manning finding out he doesn’t actually have to live inside the console pic.twitter.com/2Duwjl67jp https://t.co/4eMgj5UApw

— stoolie memes (@StoolieMemes) March 5, 2024

Oh no….anyways https://t.co/Kf0tbPePmi pic.twitter.com/bU6IJsmiV1

— Riley (@Ri_S_OB) March 5, 2024

How much focus does opting into an EA game take? https://t.co/cnrBrKgsSS

— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) March 5, 2024

Lmao what does being in a video game have to do with playing football on the field 😭😭😭🤣🤣 https://t.co/jeZqPP2HGD

— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) March 5, 2024

Arch Manning if he opts into NCAA 25 https://t.co/WuPe4oF8Bz pic.twitter.com/OXbpVJXsGh

— Will Cave (@WillCave) March 5, 2024

About to tell my wife I can’t take the trash out. Too focused on doing reporting on my phone. https://t.co/GcO8VONHRd

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 5, 2024

https://t.co/ksWhOFLjte pic.twitter.com/aolEtqIMLX

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 5, 2024

does he think opting in means he has to play it https://t.co/fb4JsI8lQD

— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) March 5, 2024

me trying to figure out this logic: https://t.co/Cz9DZOrRlr pic.twitter.com/sF8yD9nOmZ

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) March 5, 2024

He knows he’s NOT being transferred into the game correct?? Like “the files are in the computer” type thing here.
🙊🙈🤷🏼‍♂️ #BestMovieQuote https://t.co/RyWc9kWbDP

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) March 5, 2024

Mans treating college football 25 like it’s Tron 😂 https://t.co/z9ci2QiNjl

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) March 5, 2024

Arch Manning will imitate real life and not be in the game https://t.co/BarFJEQv2S

— Arrogant Nation✌🏻 (@FightOnRusty) March 5, 2024

Arch Manning, the nephew of legendary NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, signed with the Longhorns as a five-star recruit in 2023 and spent his first season as a redshirt behind starter Quinn Ewers and backup Maalik Murphy. The rising sophomore is expected to back up Ewers in the 2024-25 campaign, as Murphy has since transferred to Duke.