A very unsettled quarterback position for Nebraska may have gotten a long-term solution via redshirt freshman Luke McCaffrey, who impressed in the second half of a loss at Northwestern.

McCaffrey, who showed well two weeks before in the second half of their season opener at Ohio State (4-of-5 for 55 yards; nine rushes for 80 yards), played just one snap in the first half of Saturday’s game at Northwestern. But coming into the game midway through the third quarter for starter Adrian Martinez, he gave the offense a much-needed lift.

“I feel for Adrian. That’s a tough position to be in, and he’s poured his heart and soul into this,” Nebraska head coach Scott Frost said. “But those guys are going to compete, and I’m comfortable with both of them in a game. I thought we needed a spark, and gave Luke a shot. He deserved it.”

The talented quarterback lifted a dour Cornhuskers offense in the second half of the loss at Northwestern. McCaffrey was 12-of-16 for 93 yards with an interception and added another 49 yards rushing in his most extensive run of snaps of his collegiate career.

So far this year, 0-2 Nebraska is eighth in total offense and dead-last in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging just 15 points per game.

McCaffrey, a four-star recruit out of Littleton, CO, chose Nebraska over offers from in-state Colorado as well as the likes of Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio State among others.

A quarterback battle could be brewing although Frost was cold about it when asked immediately after the game.

“I don’t really want to comment on that right now other than to say what I’ve said all along — I think we have two really good players,” Frost said.