Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning reportedly made a very unpopular decision this week. 

According to Orangebloods.com's Anwar Richardson, Manning is not opting in to the new EA Sports College Football game that's set to be released later this summer. 

Manning is instead "focused on playing football on the field" according to Richardson's report. 

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. pic.twitter.com/dCFHdAuMZ1

— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) March 5, 2024

If Manning, who will be the primary backup to Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers in 2024, was hoping to avoid a distraction, this isn't the way. 

Manning's decision to not opt in to the game is a much bigger story than opting in to the game would've been. If Manning opts in to the game, it's just business as usual. Another star player checked off the list that users can play the game with. 

Arch, unsurprisingly, is already hearing it from fans — from folks who are disappointed in his decision (playing dynasty mode with Texas and Arch Manning would've been a popular choice for users) to fans who are giving Arch a hard time about being "just a backup" who isn't opting in to the game.

Arch Manning is generating more buzz by not being in the game than just flying under the radar and being a backup in the game. So much for “just trying to focus on football”

— Walk-On Redshirts (@walkonredshirts) March 5, 2024

Arch Manning not opting into the College Football game by EA so he can focus on “real football” while being the backup quarterback at Texas might be the most Manning thing ever

— Jeremy A. Mittelman (@YouKnowJMan) March 5, 2024

By not opting in to the game, Manning has created a much bigger distraction than he would've by simply just being in the game. 

One theory for Manning's unpopular decision is that the former five-star recruit doesn't want to let EA Sports use his likeness for just $600 (which is what each player receives for opting in to the game). 

Translation: Arch Manning is not selling his likeness for $600 but can’t say that as a backup without sounding entitled.
Insert focused on playing football. https://t.co/qoDofEdYuZ

— Colby Daniels (@Colby_Daniels) March 5, 2024

I'm not sure that theory holds much weight because EA Sports is expected to have some game "ambassadors" — which presumably comes with a fat check. Those ambassadors are expected to be some of college football's biggest stars. And Manning, despite the fact that he'll be a backup to start the 2024 season, is one of college football's biggest stars. There's no doubt that EA Sports would love to have Manning as one of the faces of the game (which, again, probably would've meant a fat check for Arch).  

Maybe Arch just wants to sit quietly in the background since he's not "the guy" in Texas this fall. 

Opting in to the game and collecting $600, however, would've been the quietest approach Arch could've taken to the EA Sports College Football game. Instead, he's created a major offseason story where there wasn't one before. 

If Arch's goal was to quiet the noise so he could focus fully on football, he massively failed. 

Update: 

ESPN's Mark Schlabach reported on Tuesday that Manning, according to his sources, wants to wait until he's "the guy" at Texas.

We now know how hard Tennessee Vols QB Joe Milton can throw a baseball

Joe Milton has a cannon