Arch Manning backs out of EA Sports College Football 25: Here's why
Amid the news that more than 11,000 college football players will take part in the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game, it was the name of one player who elected to not be featured in the new game that stuck out: Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Texas football reporter Anwar Richardson revealed that Manning will not opt into the video game because "Arch is focused on playing football on the field."
In his first season at Texas, sitting behind starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, Manning hit 2 of 5 passes and ran three times. It's expected he will have a similar role this season as Ewers returns to start for the Longhorns, who join the SEC this fall.
With no Manning in the game, EA Sports will be left to create a computer-generated quarterback in a Longhorns uniform to play in his place on the roster.
By not taking part, Manning effectively forfeits a one-time $600 payment from EA Sports and a free copy of the game.
And potentially more than that, as he would likely have been an ideal candidate to be an "ambassador" for the game, given the appeal of his name.
But Manning is still considered one of the leading lights of college football's new NIL landscape, estimated to be worth $2.8 million in potential deals, according to On3 Sports' NIL player rankings for the 2024 season.
That puts Manning at No. 5 among all college athletes and No. 2 among college football players in particular.
EA Sports is slated to release its highly-anticipated College Football 25 video game at some point this summer, with a projected release date in the month of July.
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams