Former Alabama coach Nick Saban suggested that Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian use the threat of benching quarterback Arch Manning to motivate him, citing his own experience benching Jalen Hurts for Tua Tagovailoa in the 2018 national championship game.
Speaking on ESPN, Saban said the bench is a strong motivator for a great competitor like Manning. He referenced a reported meeting where Sarkisian told Manning, "we can't win with this guy" after critical fourth-quarter mistakes in Texas' two losses and a near-miss against Ole Miss.
Backup quarterback KJ Lacey has seen increased first-team practice reps but lacks live SEC experience. The No. 11 Longhorns (5-2) face Mississippi State next, followed by a season-defining November stretch against ranked Missouri and LSU, then 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. Winning out would virtually guarantee a playoff berth and another SEC Championship appearance, while a 4-1 finish would likely place them in a logjam of nine-win SEC teams where the selection committee's criteria would decide their fate.
