A flurry of high-dollar NIL deals have come Manning's way as he takes the reins at Texas. The next closest athlete is $2.5 million behind Manning.
Arch Manning has yet to play a college season as his team's starting quarterback, yet his autographed Texas jerseys and helmets are selling for $999.99 each on sports memorabilia site Panini America. The company also has autographed Manning footballs for $749.99 and photos going for $699.99.
On top of the Panini deal, Manning has struck a major NIL coup with energy drink giant Red Bull, whose been promoting the 21-year-old junior who will be the starting quarterback this season for the Longhorns, a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 20 preseason poll.
Uber released a comical commercial of Manning with his football famed grandfather Archie Manning. EA Sports and Vuori have entered the Manning NIL craze, and other companies are clamoring to secure a deal, though Manning's been very particular about which offers he accepts.
The flurry of high-dollar NIL deals that have come Manning's way as he takes the reins at Texas make him the highest valued college athlete in the country, worth $6.8 million, according to On3.com, a site dedicated to college and high school sports, recruiting and NIL.
The nephew of Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, he has financially blown past his fellow college athletes.
Manning's valuation is $2.5 million more than college's second richest athlete, Miami quarterback Carson Beck ($4.3 million). Rounding out the top five are Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith ($4.2 million), Brigham Young forward AJ Dybantsa ($4.1 million) and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier ($3.8 million).
Where Manning ranks in the windfall of NIL dollars is a nod, not only to his athletic prowess, but to the legacy of his name in elite football circles. Manning's grandfather, Archie Manning, also played in the NFL. And with Peyton and Eli as Manning namesakes, Arch came in with a golden financial touch.
Manning has been called by NIL experts "one of the NCAA’s most marketable athletes."
And that was while he played backup for two years at Texas to Quinn Ewers. In 10 games and just two starts, Manning completed 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 108 yards and four scores on the ground on 25 carries. As Texas takes on Ohio State on the road Aug. 30, he will be making his third career start.
Where that will lead Manning in the world of NIL is yet to be seen, but he isn't taking any of it for granted.
"I didn’t want to be the guy rolling in with all this money when we have guys like Jake Majors who have 40 starts here and not making any (and) I’m taking all the money," Manning told ESPN’s Marty Smith. "I wanted to earn my money, work hard, get to know the players. Kind of earn my way up."
Red Bull: 'Target locked, wiiiings secured'
Arch Manning is standing on the field with a football. He tosses it up in the air then quickly turns and grabs a Red Bull energy drink. After a few big gulps, he hands the can over, and catches the football as it comes down. Manning turns and throws the pigskin toward a bullseye. It goes straight through the center.
Manning puts a cap on and points to the camera. "Target locked, wiiiings secured," the text flashes across the screen.
Manning's Red Bull deal announced in January was described as "extermely lucrative." While financial terms and specific details of the agreement were not disclosed, USA Today wrote "the deal shows Manning’s status as one of the most marketable athletes in college sports."
Uber: 'Who's Manning the car!?'
Just two months after Manning secured the Red Bull contract, Uber released a video in March featuring the Texas quarterback riding in the back seat of a car with his father, Cooper Manning, and his grandfather, Archie.
Cooper asks Archie, "Dad. what do you think the name of this driver is?" The camera pans to the driver's seat, which is empty. "Uhhh. I don't see a driver," Archie responds as Arch and Cooper laugh.
Manning's deal is in partnership with Uber and Waymo, a self-driving version of the ride-sharing app. Archie quips in the video that he's not sure how Waymo knows when to stop at a red light.
As the ride continues, Cooper asks Arch if he Ubers to class because he's noticed a lot of parking tickets that could be avoided. "Parking is brutal around campus," Arch says, "so I think Uber is the way to go."
Who’s Manning the car!? We've seen a lot of great drives - but this one's a game changer 🏈 🚘 🤖 Watch three generations take a legendary ride as @Waymo launches in Austin, only on Uber. #HookEmpic.twitter.com/o9tYqNXYVA
— Uber (@Uber) March 4, 2025
While Uber is not officially sponsoring Manning as an NIL athlete -- yet -- he and his family were paid a one-time undisclosed fee to be the first Waymo passengers as the autonomous rides were launched in Austin.
Vuori: 'Next Mann up'
A contemporary clothing brand headquartered in San Diego County, California, with performance apparel and athleisure wear, Vuori secured a deal with Manning in the spring.
“Next Mann Up: Arch Manning. Vuori is excited to announce Arch Manning, college football player, as the newest Vuori Athlete,” Vuori said in a social media post announcing the deal. “From his outstanding work ethic on and off the field to his unique ability to stay true to himself despite his rising status, our new athlete @archmanning embodies what winning really means to us: a passion to perform, and an inner knowing that true strength starts within.”
Panini: Manning's first big NIL deal has grown bigger
Before Manning had played a down in college, he signed his first NIL deal, a multiyear agreement with Panini America. That partnership gave the world's largest sports and entertainment collectibles company the rights to create exclusive Manning autographed cards to be auctioned on its website.
The agreement, announced in July 2023, did not disclose financial terms of the deal, but it launched with the exclusive "Arch Manning Throwback Prizm Black Autographed card" that ended up selling for $102,500.
Less than two years later, in April, Panini signed a new multi-year deal with Manning, which will build off the partnership started in 2023, including autographed memorabilia of Manning -- photos, jerseys and helmets, some going for nearly $1,000 each.
“We are excited to offer the first Arch Manning memorabilia to football fans who have been waiting for his memorabilia items," Jason Howarth, senior vice president of marketing and athlete relations for Panini America, said in a statement. “To be able to launch Arch’s memorabilia in advance of his first season as the starter at the University of Texas should also get Longhorn fans excited. Arch has been a tremendous partner and ambassador for us over the past two years and we can’t wait for the season to begin."
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Arch Manning is richest NIL athlete by a lot at $6.8 million for Texas
Category: Football
