On Monday, Texas quarterback Arch Manning's plans for the upcoming college football video game were revealed.
Unlike 10,000-plus other players in college football, Manning has reportedly chosen to sit this round out. According to Orangebloods' Anwar Richardson, he is focused on real-life football.
"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," wrote Richardson.
The announcement has led to a ton of discussions about the distraction he just created for himself, but a report by ESPN provided some reasoning as to why he won't be in the game.
According to a report by ESPN's Mark Schlabach, it wasn't due to the money as to why Manning opted out, which has become a popular theory. It was instead due to his status on the depth chart.
“Manning, who attempted only five passes in one game as Quinn Ewers’ backup in 2023, wanted to wait until ‘he was the guy’ at Texas, the source said,” Schlabach wrote.
For those who are skeptical about the money situation, it is worth noting that Manning hasn't taken any NIL money during his brief college tenure despite being viewed as one of the most marketable players in all of college sports. His lone NIL deal was with Panini America to sell his exclusive trading card, which netted over $100,00, all of which he donated to charity.
Manning is the youngest quarterback of the Manning family, which has produced Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning. He attempted just five passes during his freshman year as the third quarterback on the depth chart, but will likely be taking over for Texas in 2025 after Quinn Ewers leaves for the NFL.
Had he opted into the game, he would have received $600 and a copy of the game.
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