Just before Big 12 Media Days started, Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning announced that he had opted in for EA Sports College Football 25.
According to circulating rumors, NIL significantly influenced his decision after originally opting out of the highly anticipated video game.
Arch Manning Reportedly Paid Between $50-60K To Promote EA Sports College Football 25
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Manning received between $50-60K from EA Sports to promote EA Sports College Football 25 and will collect the standard NIL endorsement of $600 plus a copy of the game for opting in.
The number of players who have opted into the video game has exceeded EA Sports’ goal of 11,000 and could climb even higher ahead of the scheduled launch on July 19. Players to opt in will be paid through a Name, Image, and Likeness deal that is believed to be one of the largest of its kind ever executed.
Manning completed only two of his five passes for 30 yards as a freshman last season but excited the Texas fan base with a memorable spring game performance, including completing his first 10 passes of the game. He threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns in the exhibition but still enters the 2024 season behind returning starter Quinn Ewers on the depth chart.
By opting in for EA Sports College Football 25, the nephew of both Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and two-time Super Bowl MVP, Eli Manning, is taking another step into the NIL space. He previously agreed to an exclusive partnership with Panini America, a market leader in the collectibles industry.
While these deals might be the first for Arch Manning in terms of NIL, there is every reason to believe they will not be the last. His famous last name and lofty recruiting status gave him plenty of earning potential without attempting a single pass.
If he combines that with actual production between the white lines, Manning could soon realize that potential in the form of millions of dollars. According to On3.com’s NIL Valuation metric, the Texas quarterback has an estimated value of $2.8 million.
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