Texas is Paying Arch Manning's Backup QB More Money Than You Think

With Arch Manning leading the way, the No. 7 Texas Longhorns very well could have the most expensive quarterback room in college football.

While On3 has Manning's NIL Valuation at a nationwide high of $6.3 million with deals with companies such as Warby Parker, Raising Cane's and Panini America, his backup KJ Lacey is also expected to be compensated quite well.

Despite holding a NIL Valuation of $236,000, a recent report by Front Office Sports' Amanda Christovich revealed that, thanks to the $20.5 million each school is allotted to share with its athletes, Lacey is likely earning millions of dollars despite not playing a single snap. Christovich explained that backup quarterbacks who are viewed as future "phenoms" command anywhere from six to seven figures.

"The most expensive backup quarterbacks are the “next men up,” or the young freshmen or sophomore phenoms awaiting their turn under center," wrote Christovich. "(Arch Manning himself was arguably the most famous next man up as he spent two years on the Longhorns roster patiently awaiting Quinn Ewers’s departure.) At Texas, that spot is held by four-star true freshman KJ Lacey, who could be making seven-figures even on the bench, one power conference collective operator estimates."