Arch Manning makes U-turn to appear in EA Sports College Football 25 after five-figure offer

Arch Manning changed his mind on whether his likeness would appear in 'EA Sports College Football 25.'

The Texas quarterback and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning was originally the highest-profile college football player who did not agree to let his likeness be used in the hotly anticipated revival of the video game series, due out later this month.

Reports in March said Arch, 19, opted out of the potential NIL deal because he purely wanted to focus on football.

All of that was rendered moot Tuesday, when he posted a video with Uncle Eli to social media, which was captioned 'I'm IN the game.' 

The elder Manning pretends to call plays to Arch, who is wearing practice pads but playing the video game while his uncle gets him ready to throw a touchdown pass.

Manning, perhaps poking fun at his nephew over the reported reason for opting out, tweeted: '@ArchManning is in the game! It's a great way to focus on football.' 

On3 reported that EA Sports paid Arch between $50,000 and $60,000 to promote the game.

All players featured in 'College Football 25' will receive $600 and a free copy of the game.

EA Sports College Football 25 is scheduled to be released on July 19. It will initially be available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X'S gaming systems.

The game will be the first version of EA Sports' college football franchise to be released since 2013, when the game stopped being made amid lawsuits accusing it of using players' likeness without paying them. 

The NCAA's approval in 2021 of players being able to profit from their brand opened the door for the game to be made again. 

Now, more than 11,000 players have accepted an offer to be in the game, which will feature all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

Meanwhile, Arch enters the 2024 season as Texas' backup quarterback behind incumbent Quinn Ewers.