There is something funny about being a highly recruited quarterback. Before you ever take a meaningful snap, people have already decided how good you are supposed to be. The expectations can get pretty big, pretty quickly.

Arch Manning knows something about that. He’s carrying one of the most recognizable names in college football, and when he arrived at Texas, there was plenty of excitement about what he might become. But football has a way of bringing everybody back to earth. Right now, Manning is finding that out.

Nick Saban had something interesting to say about it during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. He believes Texas coach Steve Sarkisian may have found a useful way to motivate Manning: make it clear that the starting job isn’t guaranteed.

Nick Saban Thinks the Bench Can Be a Pretty Good Teacher

Saban wasn’t saying Manning lacks talent. Quite the opposite. He acknowledged that Manning has shown what he can do, but he also pointed to the need for more consistency.

His point about the bench being a good motivator caught my attention. Saban believes the possibility of losing the job might remind Manning that nobody is entitled to the starting position, no matter how highly regarded he was coming out of high school.

There’s something worth thinking about there. A quarterback can have all the physical tools in the world. He can have a famous family name, a big recruiting profile and an entire fan base waiting for him to become the next great thing. None of that helps when the quarterback turns the ball over at the wrong time.

Manning has thrown for 1,507 yards and 12 touchdowns in seven games, but he’s also had seven interceptions. Those mistakes matter, especially when Texas needs its quarterback to settle things down.

Sometimes the Best Motivation Is Knowing the Job Isn’t Yours Forever

I don’t think this is necessarily a story about Manning being in trouble. It may be a story about what happens when expectations finally meet the everyday demands of playing quarterback. Sarkisian has to think about the entire Texas team, not just the hopes attached to one player. If another quarterback gives the Longhorns a better chance to win, the coach has to be willing to consider that possibility. And Manning has to respond.

That’s not always a bad thing for a young player. Sometimes knowing the job is yours can make it harder to recognize what still needs work. Knowing somebody else is waiting for an opportunity can sharpen your focus. Saban has seen plenty of talented quarterbacks come and go. His advice is worth hearing, even if Manning doesn’t need to take it as a criticism.

The interesting part now is what Manning does with it. Texas still needs him to become the quarterback everyone thought he could be. But the next step probably has less to do with his name and more to do with what he does on the field.

Related: Ohio State Has Two Quarterbacks and One Big Question