How Arch Manning became college football’s commercials king, from Warby Parker to Raising Canes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Arch Manning is one of the biggest names in college football, and it goes further than his performance on the field. Despite having only recently taken over as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, Manning’s generational pedigree and massive celebrity status have already made him a highly sought-after commodity in the NIL landscape. U
Unlike many of his peers, Manning has been highly selective, choosing to partner with only a few major brands for national commercials, ensuring that his carefully curated public image is seen everywhere from television ads to digital campaigns, turning him into a marketing force as much as a football player.
Let’s look into some of Manning’s advertisements.
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Manning’s first major NIL deal was with Panini America, the global trading card company. This partnership focused on sports memorabilia and autographed trading cards, giving collectors a chance to own his signature before he even started a college game.
This was a non-traditional commercial appearance, focused purely on the collectible market.
Manning has a notable NIL partnership with Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company. The company is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company) and is a leading developer of fully autonomous driving technology.
Before the 2025 season, Manning announced his NIL partnership with the glasses brand Warby Parker.
He appeared in an advertisement with his father, Cooper Manning, saying he “saw the field differently.”
Ahead of the release of College Football 25, Manning announced he will be in the game in partnership with EA Sports.
Manning has been in both editions of the game College Football 25 and College Football 26 since the game re-released.
When the Texas quarterback was at the Manning Passing Academy in the summer, him and LSU signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier appeared in a Raising Canes commercial.
This is not his only involvement with the chain. In September, Manning held a meet and greet at the Dell Childrens Blood and Cancer Center in Austin, giving every kid a Canes backpack.
Manning serves as a brand ambassador for Vuori, a company that specializes in performance apparel and athletic wear.
The campaigns generally feature Arch Manning in Vuori clothing outside of a Texas Longhorns uniform, often in workout settings or lifestyle shots.
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Manning’s ey endorsements include a partnership with Panini America, focusing on autographed trading cards and collectibles, and a deal with performance apparel brand Vuori, for which he serves as a brand ambassador in lifestyle and fitness campaigns.
Manning has also aligned himself with cutting-edge technology via Waymo, appearing in ads for the autonomous driving service, and with the high-end dining chain Fogo de Chão to promote their catering options.
Notably, his appearance in the popular national Lay’s “Family Dinner” commercials with his grandfather and uncles, like Archie and Peyton Manning, was reportedly non-paid, with his portion of earnings donated to charity, underscoring his philanthropic focus alongside his commercial ventures.
Manning’s NIL earnings for 2025 is not publicly disclosed, industry estimates place him among the top-earning college athletes.
On3 estimates his NIL valuation to be $3.6 million, which is second in college football and third in On3’s NIL 100.
In early November, the platform had Manning’s valuation at $4.8 million, but that has declined.
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