Urban Meyer considers Nick Saban‘s decision to bench sophomore starter Jalen Hurts for true freshman Tua Tagovailoa at halftime of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship one of the “gutsiest” coaching moves of all-time.

But when asked if Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian could be inclined to make a similar move with junior Quinn Ewers and ballyhooed backup Arch Manning in tonight’s College Football Playoff national semifinal vs. Ohio State, Meyer wasn’t as ready for the Manning era to begin just yet.

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“Here’s the thing about Arch, I think he’s going to be a great player. I’m about to say something that I don’t want to offend anybody (or imply) that he’s not going to be a great player. He’s going to be a great player. But when I watched – and I did, I went back and watched a bunch of his tape – it’s not like he’s overwhelming yet,” Urban Meyer said Friday’s The Herd with Colin Cowher on FS1. “It’s not like he comes in the game and he just blows the doors off everybody else. So, I don’t see that drastic (difference with Ewers).

“I do believe Arch Manning, at some point, will be a high draft pick and all that, but that time is not now,” Meyer continued. “So, I think (Sarkisian) is doing the right thing with Quinn Ewers, who’s won the big games. Do you do the Nick Saban (replacing Hurts for Tagovailoa), which is one of the gutsiest moves I’ve ever seen, in that scenario? Only Sark knows that because we’re not privy to being at practice and what Arch is really capable of doing. What I’ve seen (of Manning is) he’s got a great future, but right now Quinn Ewers is their best opportunity to win.”

Ewers has started every game this season, leading the Longhorns (13-2) to within a win of advancing to the CFP National Championship game while throwing for 3,189 yards on 66.5% passing and 29 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Manning has appeared in nine games with two starts in relief of an injured Ewers, throwing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns to two interceptions along with four rushing scores this season.

Still, much like with the Hurts-Tagovailoa dilemma, some Texas fans have called for Manning — the former No. 1 overall QB in 2023 — to assume the QB1 reigns sooner than later.

Meyer clearly is not in that particular camp.

No. 8 seed Ohio State is currently a 5.5-point favorite over the fifth-seeded Longhorns in tonight’s Cotton Bowl national semifinal (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.