QB Adrian Martinez's performance at Kansas State highlights Scott Frost's failures at Nebraska

In a 41-34 upset win over Oklahoma on Saturday, Kansas State QB Adrian Martinez, a four-year starter at Nebraska under Scott Frost, accounted for all five Wildcats touchdowns. He totaled 234 yards passing and 148 rushing.

Martinez's stellar performance not only helped propel Kansas State into the Associated Press Top 25. It also shined a spotlight on player development under Frost, whom Nebraska fired as head coach on Sept. 11 after an embarrassing loss to Georgia Southern.

In four seasons at Nebraska, Martinez only provided glimpses of standout play. 

At Kansas State, head coach Chris Klieman has eased Martinez into the starting job, giving him more passing opportunities each week. He has a 62 percent completion percentage and no interceptions. 

“That Martinez kid is a pretty good player,”  Klieman said Saturday.

In four games at Kansas State (3-1), Martinez already has more wins over ranked opponents—one—than in his four seasons at Nebraska. He needs two wins to match the Huskers' best season under Frost.

Against ranked opponents Oklahoma, Michigan State and Michigan last season, Martinez failed to deliver for the Cornhuskers. His poor play in clutch moments became a fixation for Nebraska fans, and he earned a reputation as turnover-prone.

Martinez isn't the only player to excel after leaving Nebraska for another college. Last season, Wan’Dale Robinson, a rookie with the New York Giants, amassed 1,334 receiving yards at Kentucky—nearly double his total in two seasons at Nebraska.

Both players showed what made them highly sought prospects in high school — but only after leaving Lincoln. 

Nebraska fans, meanwhile, are left to ponder what went wrong at the fallen giant during Frost's 47-game tenure tenure.