Texas Longhorns quarterback under fire for handling of College Football 25 inclusion

Backup Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning appeared in a commercial for the new College Football 25 video game.

This followed Manning’s decision to opt out of participating in the game, unlike most other college football players who accepted the $600 payment and a copy of the game.

Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning referred to the game as a “distraction.”

When Manning chose to opt out of being included in College Football 25, he cited his focus on the field as the reason. Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods, as reported by Awful Announcing, noted that Manning viewed the game as a distraction. This decision was notably significant given that fellow Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was announced as the game’s cover athlete.

Richardson reported, “Multiple people have told me Texas redshirt quarterback Arch Manning will not opt into EA Sports College Football 25. I’m told Arch is focused on playing football on the field.”

At the time, Manning faced criticism for creating a larger distraction by opting out compared to simply participating like most other college football players.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning chose to do more than just opt into College Football 25.

Despite initially calling College Football 25 a distraction—especially with fellow Longhorn QB Quinn Ewers featured on the cover—Arch Manning has now chosen to actively promote the game.

Manning is participating in the marketing campaign, earning between $50,000 and $60,000 for his role in this last-minute promotional effort, which is far more than what he would have received by simply opting in.

He appears in the commercial alongside his famous relative, two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning, former quarterback for the New York Giants.

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It’s unclear how much Ewers earned from his involvement in the game or if he received more than the standard $600 plus a copy of the game. If Ewers earned less than Manning, it could reflect the difference in their NIL valuations. According to On3, Ewers has an NIL valuation of $1.9 million, while Manning’s is $2.8 million. Ewers led the Longhorns to a College Football Playoff berth in 2023, while Manning has yet to see significant playing time for Texas.

Manning’s handling of the situation has made him a controversial figure in the college football world, with many fans criticizing both his initial decision to opt out and the nature of the commercial itself.