Nebraska to start QB Adrian Martinez vs. Ohio State

Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Scott Frost told reporters on Monday that junior quarterback Adrian Martinez will start for Saturday's season opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

Ohio State is ranked No. 5 in the country. 

As Adam Rittenberg wrote for ESPN, Martinez competed with redshirt freshman Luke McCaffrey during the preseason following an up-and-down 2019 campaign in which Martinez threw for 1,956 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

As a freshman in 2018, Martinez tallied 2,617 passing yards with 17 throwing touchdowns and eight rushing scores. He's rushed for 1,255 yards with 15 touchdowns during his Nebraska career. 

"If Luke had already been playing and we had the same camp, it probably would have been Luke," Frost explained. "We feel we have the luxury of two starters."

Per Michael Bruntz of 247Sports, Martinez added that he believes the competition with McCaffrey helped him improve. 

“I think it brought the most out of myself and Luke as well as the team around us,” Martinez said. “It really got us going and I think it was a positive change.” 

Meanwhile, senior offensive lineman Matt Farniok offered high praise of McCaffrey. 

"Honestly, if he’s behind us, there’s really no drop-off. … No question if he’s in the game and we ever need him, there’s a 100-percent confidence behind him," Farniok said.