Nick Saban, the former Alabama head coach, advised Texas coach Steve Sarkisian to use the bench as a motivational tool for quarterback Arch Manning, drawing on his own experience benching Jalen Hurts for Tua Tagovailoa at halftime of the 2018 national championship game against Georgia.
Saban's Bench Motivation Strategy
Speaking on ESPN Friday, Saban said, 'I always say the bench is a pretty good motivator, especially if the guy's a great competitor, which I think Arch is.' He added that the threat of losing the starting job could keep Manning motivated through the rest of the season. Saban revealed that Sarkisian held a meeting with Manning and told him, 'Look, we can't win with this guy.' Saban acknowledged the difficulty of benching a high-profile player but warned that if Manning does not play with consistency, Sarkisian will 'keep it in the bag.'
Manning's Struggles and Backup Situation
Manning has been inconsistent this season, committing critical fourth-quarter mistakes in both of Texas' losses and in a tied game against Ole Miss, though the Longhorns escaped with a win. Backup quarterback KJ Lacey has seen an uptick in first-team practice reps but has not yet faced the complexity of live SEC competition.
Texas' Playoff Path
The No. 11 Longhorns (5-2) play Mississippi State on Saturday before a season-defining November slate that includes road games at ranked Missouri and LSU, followed by Arkansas and Texas A&M. Texas is currently projected as an at-large College Football Playoff selection ahead of the first CFP top 25 reveal on Tuesday night. Winning out would all but guarantee a CFP berth and another SEC Championship appearance, while a 4-1 finish would likely leave Texas in a logjam of nine-win SEC teams, with the final decision resting on overall resume and the selection committee's criteria.
