Scott Frost

Adrian Martinez announced Thursday he's transferring from Nebraska.

Martinez leaves the Cornhuskers after having thrown for 8,495 yards and 45 touchdowns and run for 2,288 yards and 35 scores. No player in program history accounted for more yards (10,772) than the California native.

His transfer could be mutually beneficial for both parties.

Martinez can ride off into the sunset with a big year at another school a la Russell Wilson or Gardner Minshew. He's probably achieved all he can in Lincoln.

The 6'2" signal-caller should have some suitors in the Power Five given his dual-threat abilities and starting experience.

Minshew is a prime example of how transferring and finding the right fit can work wonders. He followed two largely middling years at East Carolina with a monster season at Washington State in 2018 that resulted in winning the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Maybe a change of scenery will help Martinez raise his ceiling.

The Cornhuskers, meanwhile, can continue wiping the slate clean after having already fired offensive coordinator Matt Lubick and three other offensive assistants.

Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler, UCF's Dillon Gabriel, Fresno State's Jake Haener and LSU's Myles Brennan have already entered the transfer portal. Even if head coach Scott Frost is unable to land one of the four, there will inevitably be more quarterbacks looking to move as the offseason unfolds.

Frost might also expect big things from Logan Smothers.

Smothers was the No. 14 dual-threat quarterback in the 2020 recruiting class in 247Sports' composite rankings. The Alabama native went 16-of-22 for 198 yards and one interception and ran for 64 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in his lone start, a 28-21 loss to Iowa on Nov. 26.

Having already restructured his contract and reshuffled his staff, Frost is likely to be sitting on the hot seat in 2022 after Nebraska finished 3-9. Eventually, being a school legend doesn't matter if a coach isn't delivering results.

Whether it's leaning on Smothers or dipping into the transfer portal, identifying the right starting quarterback to succeed Martinez will go a long way toward turning Frost's tenure around.

Scott Frost will return to Nebraska for the 2022 season after the two sides agreed to a restructured contract that was announced Monday:

The Cornhuskers are 3-7 in 2021, marking the fourth straight losing season under Frost.

"We all recognize our record has not been what anyone wants it to be," director of athletics Trev Alberts said in a statement. "I have been clear that I have been looking for incremental progress, and I have seen that in several key areas this season."

Nebraska is 1-6 in Big Ten play this season and 10-23 in four years since Frost took over in 2018. 

The poor record might not be indicative of Nebraska's ability this year, however, with all seven losses decided by single digits. 

The squad lost by seven to Oklahoma, three to Michigan State, three to Michigan and nine to Ohio State, and all four opponents rank inside the Top 10 in the latest Associated Press poll. Different outcomes on a few key plays could have been the difference between the current record and a winning season with multiple impressive victories.

Nebraska is ready to give Frost another chance to turn things around as the program seeks its first bowl game since 2016.

The coach's contract could also be a significant factor. Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald reported the original deal required a $20 million buyout if Frost was fired after this season. Though details of the new contract have not been released, the restructure could create more team-friendly terms.

The vow of confidence could still be enough to help Frost build toward 2022, hopefully improving a recruiting class that ranks dead last in the Big Ten and 71st nationally, per 247Sports.    

Nebraska and head football coach Scott Frost are reportedly under investigation by the NCAA. 

Per Brett McMurphy of The Action Network, there is “significant video footage” of the Cornhuskers improperly using analysts and consultants during games and practices dating back 12 months. 

McMurphy noted the video footage shows the practice violations occurred in the presence of Frost and other assistants. 

Frost has already been interviewed by the NCAA about the allegations, as well as "multiple current and former staff members, administration and football players."

In addition to the improper use of analysts and consultants during games, Nebraska is also said to have organized workouts at a time when such events were prohibited by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to McMurphy, it's unknown if the program is currently being investigated for organizing unauthorized workouts. 

McMurphy added that Frost could be suspended for "an unknown number of games," among the other potential penalties the program could receive from the NCAA after the investigation gets wrapped up. 

The Cornhuskers have seen significant turnover over the past two years. Twenty-four scholarship players have transferred since the end of the 2019 season. 

Gerrod Lambrecht, who worked with Frost the previous five years dating back to their time at Central Florida, stepped down as Nebraska's chief of staff last week to pursue other opportunities. 

Frost took over as Cornhuskers head coach in December 2017 amid a lot of hype. The Nebraska alum went 19-7 in two seasons at UCF, including a perfect 13-0 record in 2017. 

Things haven't gone as planned since the 46-year-old returned to his alma mater. He has gone 12-20 overall (9-17 in the Big Ten) with no bowl appearances in the past three seasons, including 3-5 last year. 

Nebraska is scheduled to open the 2021 season on Aug. 28 at Illinois.    

NFL star Christian McCaffrey waded into his brother Luke's transfer from the University of Louisville on Wednesday, criticizing comments made by Nebraska head coach Scott Frost regarding Luke's decision. 

The younger McCaffrey began his college career playing for Frost and the Huskers, leaving Lincoln for Louisville in February. The quarterback will now head to Rice for the 2021 season. Christian McCaffrey was quick to point out that Frost didn't have any issue with players being able to transfer when the head coach left Stanford in 1995 to play for the Huskers. 

Frost would go on to win Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 1996 before leading Nebraska to a national championship in 1997—all after the Cardinal allowed him to throw 85 pass attempts over two seasons as a backup.

Commenting on Luke McCaffrey's decision to transfer again, the coach said a lot of "kids are getting bad advice", though McCaffrey's situation appears to have clear benefits for the young QB. 

Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg the decision to transfer came after McCaffrey realized he was unlikely to start for the Cardinals this year. Instead, McCaffrey will now play for head coach Mike Bloomgren at Rice, who served as Christian McCaffrey's offensive coordinator when the tailback was at Stanford.

As a redshirt freshman in 2020, McCaffrey completed 48-of-87 passes for 466 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions while taking five sacks. He also carried the ball 65 times for 364 yards and three scores. 

Regardless of what his former coach thinks, the McCaffrey family supports Luke's decision and don't appear willing to hear any negative comments from a coach who once made similar choices as a college player.