Texas Quarterback Arch Manning Won't Join EA Sports' College Football 25 Video Game

Manning chooses to focus on football versus the NIL opportunity with EA Sports

While 10,000 college football players across the country have opted to EA Sports College Football 25 video game, Texas quarterback Arch Manning will not be one of them. According to Anwar Richardson, Manning wants to focus on playing football on the field.

The top-rated quarterback in the nation out of high school in 2022 saw limited action behind Quinn Ewers - who opted-in to the EA Sports video game - last season, throwing for just 30 yards, completing two passes on five attempts. However, with a famous surname he is already one of the most popular players in the country.

Manning expected to have an opportunity to win a job heading into the 2024 season, but with Ewers returning, he will likely wait until 2025 to be the starter.

Manning's decision to focus on football caused more of an uproar than it would've had he opted into the game. In typical fashion, fans and critics made a big deal out of the young man opting out of the game.

According to On3, Manning has the fifth-highest NIL valuation in college sports, sitting at $2.8 million.

Despite the valuation from On3, Cooper Manning, Arch's father, said in December of 2023 that his only NIL deal has been an exclusive trading card partnership with Panini America. The deal included a charitable auction that raised over $100,000 for the St. David's Foundation.

It's unfortunate that he decided to not opt in given the excitement fans could've had by playing with him in the game.

Mark Schlabach of ESPN says that Manning wanted to wait until he was the main guy at Texas. 

Hopefully in College Football 26, if there is one, Manning will be in the game.