It’s his team, his now or never. But maybe, just maybe, Scott Frost can let go. 

Let go of the quarterback position at Nebraska — a microcosm of the sometimes dynamic and more often dysfunctional disappointment of the past 4 seasons — and give in to what could be a soft, safe landing into the world of the solid, and at times, spectacular. 

Let go enough that he might just like the normal that he sees. 

Or he can hold on a little longer. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we have more than one play,” Frost said of his quarterbacks last week during his radio show.

Let’s hope that was Gamesmanship 101. 

Let’s hope Frost used his radio show to throw deception in the wind while Northwestern was preparing for Saturday’s season-opener in Ireland. 

Let’s hope it’s not a sign of Frost continuing to find his way into the offensive meetings, which he did in the offseason. Part of the mandate in his return for one last shot at making it right at his alma mater was rebooting the offense. 

So he hired a new offensive staff, tabbing coaching mercenary/QB guru Mark Whipple to run the show — and telling him it was his to do with as he pleased. 

Guess how many quarterbacks Whipple played at Pittsburgh the past 3 seasons in non-injury situations? One. 

And it’s not like Kenny Pickett was a star when he won the Pitt job in 2019, finishing with a TD/INT ratio of 13/9. He developed into an NFL first-round pick.

If anyone other than Casey Thompson plays for the Huskers on Saturday, Frost hasn’t let go of the offense.

Chubba Purdy couldn’t get on the field at Florida State last year, which is in just as bad (or worse) shape as Nebraska. 

Logan Smothers didn’t play that poorly in the loss to Iowa to end last season, but if he were the answer, Frost wouldn’t have added 2 quarterbacks from the transfer portal. 

Players change and improve. They get better and smarter and tougher. Maybe Purdy and Smothers have. 

But the choice at Nebraska now — failing, floundering, on its last leg under Frost Nebraska — is a 23-year-old 5th-year senior who has played in big games, and played well as a 10-game starter last season at Texas. 

The choice at Nebraska is the player who fits perfectly with Whipple’s pro-style offense. The player who not only fits but can win games. 

And at this point in the make-or-break season for Frost, there’s no bigger game than the season-opener. The Huskers are nearly a 2-touchdown favorite, and losing would suck the life so quickly from the fragile program, they’ll be able to feel it 4,000 miles away in Lincoln.

If it’s not gamesmanship, why mess with normal so close to the season? After 4 years of uncertainty and turmoil with the Frost/Adrian Martinez project, how do you not at least begin the season by publicly stating we’re going with the guy who gives us the best chance to win games — and we’re going to support him every way we possibly can?

The hell with gamesmanship. At this point in the unraveling under Frost, Nebraska just needs normal.

A quarterback who can complete 3rd-down throws. A quarterback who can protect the ball. 

A quarterback who, when needed, can make the spectacular play with the right coaching and pieces around him. 

Just normal. 

We’re going to go play football, and this is our quarterback and his new coach/offensive coordinator and play-caller. It’s simple and straightforward. 

You know, like what Nebraska did for all of those years and all of those elite seasons under Dr. Tom (a couple that Frost led).  

Look, I can appreciate Frost’s situation. If he’s going down, he’s going down his way. 

It’s hard to argue with a guy who had such prolific offenses as the offensive coordinator at Oregon, and as the head coach at UCF. He coached a Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon (Marcus Mariota), and had a legit Heisman candidate at UCF (McKenzie Milton).

It’s not like he suddenly forgot how to coach. 

But we’re too far down the road now, too deep into this strange one-shot deal given to Frost from athletic director Trev Alberts. 

There’s too much riding on an opener that, if the Huskers win, can lead to a 3-0 start (North Dakota, Georgia Southern) — and have Nebraska staring at finishing September with a home game against bitter rival Oklahoma.

Win there and, well, let’s not get over our skis about being favored in every game until November. Let’s just stick with normal for now. 

Pick your quarterback and play him. Win a game. Then head to Week 2. 

You might just like the normal you see.