The 2024 college football season is now a figment of the past. All tides have shifted toward 2025, where the Ohio State Buckeyes will look to defend the first championship of the 12-team College Football Playoff era. With this turning of the page comes a new leader in NIL valuation.
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Last season, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders sat atop the NIL earnings list. Now that they’re headed for the NFL, other tides have risen up the board. And the newest athlete at the peak of the mountain is Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Arch, the nephew of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, is a rising junior for the Longhorns. Despite not even being a full-time starter yet, Manning is regarded as the most marketable amateur athlete and has the highest NIL valuation.
In July, Arch Manning reversed his initial decision and opted into EA Sports’ College Football 25, despite earlier rumors suggesting he would not allow his likeness to be featured. He received a promotional deal worth between $50,000 and $60,000 from EA Sports. Previously, in July 2023, Manning had entered into a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreement with Panini America.
Manning’s newest NIL deal, with Red Bull, was announced on Jan. 30, catapulting him to the top of the On3’s top five rankings.
His $6.5 million NIL valuation is significantly larger than every other athlete on the list; $2 million+ more than the second and third guys on the list, Cooper Flagg and Carson Beck respectively.
- Quinn Ewers (Texas, Football) – $6.5 million
- Cooper Flagg (Duke, Men’s Basketball) – $4.8 million
- Carson Beck (Miami-FL, Football) – $4.3 million
- Livvy Dunne (LSU, Gymnastics) – $4.1 million
- Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State, Football) – $4.0 million
Manning addressed his NIL deal with Red Bull in an interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith in January, saying “I really like this partnership. Everyone at Red Bull has been super nice to me and my family and I can’t wait to get it going. Plus, I like a Red Bull in the morning… We got early meetings, need a little energy.”
He appeared in 10 games last season, completing 67.8% (61/90) of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 115 yards and four touchdowns as a rusher while predominantly backing up Quinn Ewers.
Quarterbacks are often among the highest NIL earners in college athletics. That remains true, as 14 of On3’s top 20 athletes are signal-callers. Manning and Beck, though, are the only quarterbacks in the organization’s top six.
What will Arch Manning’s role be in 2025?
Head coach Steve Sarkisian did his best to downplay any potential QB battle between Ewers and Manning in 2024. At the same time, a number of media outlets tried pushing the narrative of competition all season long. Despite the team’s own fanbase desiring Manning in the lineup, he remained the backup quarterback when Ewers was healthy.
This year, Manning has no roadblocks to the starting job. Sarkisian confirmed so on Up & Adams. When speaking with Kay Adams on the program, he discussed what he told Manning about slotting into his new role.
“I tell these guys all the time… we chose this. You chose to play quarterback. I chose to be a head coach. We chose to be at the University of Texas… everything’s bigger in Texas. The spotlight’s on Austin… so some of that stuff comes with the territory. But that’s what we chose to do. Nobody forced us to do this. So now, let’s embrace it, and let’s make this a great experience.”
In most seasons, a quarterback gets a game or two against lesser competition to open their time as starter. Manning will enjoy no such luxuries. Texas begins the season on the road against Ohio State on Aug. 30. The CFP semifinal rematch is one of the biggest games on college football’s 2025 calendar. The kickoff for the contest has yet to be announced.
