Nebraska football is an unnatural disaster. An oil spill, a collapsing bridge, an industrial explosion, that old black-and-white video of two trains colliding – these represent what was once one of the proudest programs of the Bowl Subdivision.
While the program’s irrelevance predates Coach Scott Frost, the decline intensified enormously under the former Cornhuskers quarterback.
After losing 31-28 to Northwestern in the season opener, Frost’s Nebraska record now stands at 15-30. Of these losses, 21 occurred with a difference of one score. His comments last week on offensive linemen vomiting “15 to 20” times during practice must have been greeted with a shrug by a dispirited fanbase, who must feel the urge to get up at least that many times every fall Saturday.
The loss to Northwestern, like so many during Frost’s tenure, had the pacing of a horror movie.
The happy and sunny departure. Nebraska led 14-3 early in the second quarter after hitting two touchdown passes under new quarterback Casey Thompson, who was very lively in the first half.
The “something is wrong” moment. Northwestern responded with two scores, the second capping an 82-yard drive with 25 seconds left in the first half to give the Wildcats a 17-14 lead after two quarters.
The twist “the call comes from inside the house”. The Cornhuskers would respond with a pair of transfer touchdowns from college junior Anthony Grant, including a 46-yard run to put Nebraska ahead 28-17 with nine minutes left in the third quarter. Nebraska would then attempt an onside kick, which was recovered by Northwestern. The Wildcats would score a touchdown on that short field; the Cornhuskers would no longer score.
The bloody and inevitable conclusion. With 6:10 left in the fourth quarter, Northwestern took over on its 6-yard line and went for 53 yards in nine straight plays, using 4:18 of the game clock before throwing. Pinned to its 4-yard line, Nebraska ran three plays before a Thompson pass attempt slammed into its intended receiver and was intercepted by Northwestern.
And like any horror movie, train wreck, or multiple car pile-up, it’s impossible to look away. The Cornhuskers and Northwestern top the list of winners and losers in an abbreviated Week 0 list that kicks off the 2022 season:
WINNERS
North West
Selected to finish last in the Big Ten West after winning just three times last year, Northwestern took a big first step toward what has become a Pat Fitzgerald-era tradition: the rebound season. With upcoming games against Duke, Southern Illinois and Miami (Ohio) before returning to the Big Ten, the Wildcats are in a position to reach bowl eligibility for what would be the fifth time in the year after six seasons lost from the program under Fitzgerald. In another trend among Big Ten teams in Nebraska’s weight class, Fitzgerald made the game to take advantage of the Cornhuskers’ inevitable implosion.
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Western Kentucky
A series of personnel and coaching changes during the offseason lingered in the Hilltoppers’ season opener, a 38-27 win over Austin Peay of the Championship Division. Behind quarterback Bailey Zappe, wide receiver Jerreth Sterns and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley — now playing for the Patriots, playing for the Packers and coaching in the same position at Texas Tech — last year’s offense went ranked first nationally in passing, second in total attack and second in scoring. But WKU threw for 387 yards against Austin Peay, well below last season’s average, while former West Florida transfer Austin Reed threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
LOSERS
Scott Frost
The already slim odds of him returning in 2023 essentially drop to zero. Even when he was no longer in control of the offense – he handed over those reins to new coordinator Mark Whipple, who could update his resume on the flight home – Frost still managed to disrupt the Cornhuskers’ timing with the kick. stunning foot; looking for the knockout punch, he instead delivered a potentially fatal blow to his safety. With a non-conference game against Oklahoma on Sept. 17 and a brutal November ahead, Nebraska is going to struggle to win enough games to save Frost’s job.
Follow college reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg
