Nov 20, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Martinez was a four-year starter with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but because of the COVID mandates a few years ago, the NCAA granted athletes another year of eligibility if they wanted it.

Martinez decided to use his last year and transfer to fellow Big 12 school Kansas State. He gave a brutally honest answer when asked why he decided to move on from the Cornhuskers. He said he wanted to be part of a winning program.

“The narratives I’m fighting against, well, I haven’t been to a bowl game and I haven’t had a winning season,” Martinez said, via Nick Kosko of 247 Sports. “Now football is a team sport, but I play quarterback and oftentimes you get associated with those kinds of things and I want to win. I want to go play in a bowl game and I want to win a bowl game. So that was another reason why I came here. I feel like we have a great opportunity to win.”

Nebraska hasn’t been to a bowl game in five years. Four of those years were with Martinez at quarterback. Meanwhile, Kansas State has had one of the most successful programs in the Big 12. The Wildcats played in the Texas Bowl this past season, defeating LSU 42-20. And many are optimistic about their future prospects:

[Larry Brown Sports; image from Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports]

About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.