Arch Manning Gets Cold Shoulder as EA Sports Snub Sparks ‘Weird’ Reaction from National Analyst

A bit of history just got made in the gaming world. EA Sports has officially dropped the cover for CFB 26—and it’s turning heads. For the first time ever, two WRs share the spotlight. OSU’s rising star Jeremiah Smith and Bama’s electric playmaker Ryan Williams grace the cover together, breaking the mold. Last year’s CFB 25 featured big names like Texas QB Quinn Ewers, CU’s 2-way sensation Travis Hunter (who went on to win the Heisman), and Michigan standout Donovan Edwards. This year, the hype is bigger. EA Sports revealed that over 6.5 M users have already engaged with the new game. But despite all the buzz, one name is surprisingly missing—no Arch Manning. The Heisman hopeful didn’t make the cut. Shocking? Maybe. But this cover is all about speed, swagger, and a new era of stars.

Arch Manning enters the 2025 season as one of the most hyped and highest-paid stars in the game. With a jaw-dropping NIL valuation of $6.6 M, he leads the pack just ahead of Carson Beck and Jeremiah Smith. But despite the spotlight, Manning has stayed grounded. He’s trusted the process, stuck with the Longhorns, and waited patiently behind Ewers for 2 full seasons. That kind of loyalty is rare in today’s game. Last year, Arch made headlines by opting out of EA Sports CFB 25, only to later join the game. But this year, both Manning and HC Steve Sarkisian made a different call. They chose to skip the cover of College Football 26. A surprising move, but one that shows Arch isn’t chasing fame—he’s focused on football.

As EA Sports unveiled the star-studded cover for College Football 26, one name was noticeably missing—Arch Manning. The cover features big-time names like DJ Lagway, Garrett Nussmeier, and even head coaches like Dan Lanning, Lane Kiffin, and Marcus Freeman. But Manning’s absence raised eyebrows, especially among analysts. On the May 29 episode of ND Football on Blue & Gold, Mike Singer and Tim Hyde dove into the topic. When Mike joked, “Can you imagine? You imagine Reggie Bush is there in the real one,” Tim responded with a chuckle, “Okay, holding— I saw plenty of Reggie against Notre Dame for the three years. So I’m cool. I’m cool.”

He then noticed another omission. “No Steve Angeli on this one? No, he didn’t make it for Syracuse, huh? That’s too bad. That’s— that’s surprising,” said Tim. Still, he acknowledged the tradition behind the game’s cover: “It’s always cool to see what they have. I know they got some of the old guys in there that have been on the cover in the past, and it’s always cool to see what the current guys are.” Despite the hype surrounding Manning, the snub adds another layer to his complex college football story. And for many, it’s a “weird” twist in a game where star power usually dominates.

During the conversation, the topic turned to EA Sports’ 26 cover reveal—and who fans expected to see on it. Mike Singer asked the burning question: “Who are the three on the cover?” Tim Hyde didn’t hesitate and said, “I—I mean, instantly, I thought it was going to be Arch, Jeremiah Love—I had Jeremiah Love in there just because the name brand Notre Dame—and definitely Jeremiah Smith. Arch, obviously. Texas backed out. They didn’t want to be a part of that, which is weird.”

But the final selection caught even him off guard. “Obviously, they went with Ryan Williams, who is—it’s not fair. I’ll be — I’ll be honest with you, Mike.” However, the surprise twist? Arch Manning—arguably the most hyped name in CFB—was left off once again. The absence raised eyebrows and stirred up more questions about Texas’ decision to step away from the spotlight. But not everyone sees it as weird — some believe Jeremiah Smith deserved the spotlight over Manning.

Smith over Arch Manning? Many say he earned it

Arch Manning didn’t make the cover this year. Instead, the spotlight shifted to two electrifying freshmen — Jeremiah Smith. For Steelers rookie QB Will Howard, that choice wasn’t surprising at all. He’s been a believer in Smith from the jump. “I knew Jeremiah was going to be special from the first time I met him,” Howard said last year. Now in the NFL, his stance hasn’t changed one bit. When asked who should’ve landed the EA Sports cover, Howard didn’t hesitate: “Give me Jeremiah Smith. Best player in the country right there, man.”

Arch Manning may top the Heisman odds, but he’s not running unopposed. Jeremiah Smith, sitting at +1300 on FanDuel, is gaining ground fast. Quarterbacks usually own the Heisman spotlight, but 2024 shook things up. Last season proved that game-changers at other positions can crash the party, and Smith looks ready to do just that.

But Florida’s Governor is all-in on Arch Manning. “I think Arch Manning will probably be the favorite for the Heisman,” said Ron DeSantis during a podcast with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The Texas QB is stepping into the spotlight, already boasting 9 touchdowns and just 2 picks. According to Bet MGM, his Heisman chances sit at 14.3% — a solid shot for a rising star. DeSantis even recalled Peyton Manning telling him Arch “probably could be” better than he was. With the Manning name behind him, Arch is chasing history — and the Heisman that’s eluded his iconic family.