Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning Attacked for His Handling of CFB 25 Inclusion

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

This came after Manning was one of the very few notable opt-outs who refused to be in the game for the $600 check along with a copy of the video game that every other college football player was offered.

Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning called the game a “distraction”

When Manning was one of the few notable players who decided to opt out of being included in College Football 25, he cited being focused on the field as his reasoning.

According to Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods in an article from Awful Announcing, Manning thought the game was a distraction. This proved to be especially damning considering fellow Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was revealed to be featured on the cover of the game.

“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,” Richardson said in his post.

At the time, many called out Manning for the fact that deciding to opt out resulted in a much bigger distraction than just opting in like the vast majority of fellow college football players.

Arch Manning opting out of the NCAA game to avoid being a distraction pic.twitter.com/pbMFDpyJ2i

— Peach State Payton (@PeachStPayton) March 5, 2024

It’s a bigger distraction with Arch Manning not being in the game than that would be if he opted-in. https://t.co/vtP6xvUYIh

— Tyler Johnson (@T_johnson_TJ) March 5, 2024

Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning decided to do a lot more than opt-in to College Football 25

Despite calling College Football 25 a distraction even though fellow Longhorn QB Quinn Ewers was revealed to be on the cover, Manning has now decided to help the game advertise.

Manning is now doing much more than what would’ve been required of him had he just opted in originally. Manning is reportedly making $50,000 to $60,000 from the game for his role in its last-second marketing tactic.

BREAKING: Texas QB Arch Manning has announced he will be in EA Sports College Football 25🔥

(via @ArchManning) https://t.co/H1UUcqrwqx pic.twitter.com/xeGUVUpYJD

— On3 (@On3sports) July 9, 2024

Manning is in the commercial with famous family member, two-time Super Bowl champion and former quarterback of the New York Giants Eli Manning.

Even though Ewers is on the cover, it is unclear how much he made from the game or if he even made more than the baseline $600 combined with a copy of the game. If he happened to make less than Manning for his involvement, it would align with the two QBs’ NIL valuation.

According to On3, Ewers has an NIL valuation of $1.9 million while Manning’s NIL valuation sits at $2.8 million. Ewers led the Longhorns to a College Football Playoff berth in 2023 while Manning has yet to play a meaningful snap for Texas.

Fans attacked Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning for how he handled the entire situation

Manning has already made himself a controversial figure in the college football world with how he handled his inclusion in the CFB 25 video game.

Many fans are attacking him for his initial statement regarding his choice to opt out while other fans are simply attacking the nature of the commercial itself.

he didn’t want to be in the game because it was a distraction, causing a distraction. And now filming a commercial announcing he is in the game which isn’t a distraction? Goofy.

— Gabey (@GabeyCardStacks) July 9, 2024

Glad it’s not distracting anymore

— SPG (@SPG9814) July 9, 2024

Bro dragged it out just to be back up qb on the game

— sports.talk (@barsstoolcfb) July 9, 2024

Held out long enough to make headlines and then opted in anyway

— Penn State FB Thoughts (@PSU_FB_Thoughts) July 9, 2024

He didn’t want to be the only player with a number out there, what a diva to make all this fuss.

— Capt. America (@MrCaptnAmerica) July 9, 2024

So unbelievably cringe

— Justin Maloney (@JMaloneyLiberty) July 9, 2024

The game officially releases on July 19.

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