Former Alabama coach Nick Saban suggested Friday that Texas coach Steve Sarkisian should use the threat of benching quarterback Arch Manning to motivate more consistent play.
Speaking on ESPN, Saban referenced his own decision to bench Jalen Hurts in favor of Tua Tagovailoa at halftime of the 2018 national championship game against Georgia, a move that sparked a comeback victory.
"I always say the bench is a pretty good motivator, especially if the guy's a great competitor, which I think Arch is," Saban said. "The threat that he might not be entitled to the job may be something that motivates him and keeps him motivated through the rest of the season. He's going to have to play well for them to be able (to win out)."
Manning's inconsistency has been a factor in both of Texas' losses this season, with critical fourth-quarter mistakes swinging momentum. The Longhorns escaped a similar situation against Ole Miss with the game tied.
Backup quarterback KJ Lacey has seen an uptick in first-team practice reps but has not yet faced live SEC competition.
Saban also revealed that Sarkisian told Manning in a meeting, "Look, we can't win with this guy," underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
The No. 11 Longhorns (5-2) face Mississippi State on Saturday before a pivotal November stretch that includes road games at ranked Missouri and LSU, followed by Arkansas and Texas A&M.
Texas is currently projected as an at-large selection in the College Football Playoff ahead of Tuesday night's first CFP top 25 reveal. Winning out would all but guarantee a playoff berth and could secure another SEC Championship appearance, while a 4-1 finish would likely leave Texas in a logjam of nine-win SEC teams.
