In the wake of Wednesday’s report from The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, which states Nebraska is under NCAA investigation for “improper use of analysts and consultants during practices and games,” questions have been flying regarding the status of head coach Scott Frost, who many considered to be on shaky ground to begin with.

Receiving a contract extension through the 2026 season in November 2019, parting ways with Frost, unless the university can establish cause, would be a costly move for the B1G West program.

Shortly after McMurphy’s story broke, we found out exactly how costly.

If terminated before December 31, 2026, the Cornhuskers would owe the coach $5M for each season through December 31, 2024, and $2.5M for both seasons through December 31, 2026, paid on a prorated basis.

Meaning, if he were let go on January 1, Nebraska would owe Frost $20M.

Starring at Wood River (Nebraska) High School, Frost originally began his collegiate career at Stanford, spending two seasons with the Cardinal in 1993 and 1994.

Transferring back home in 1995, he redshirted his first year on-campus, which saw the Cornhuskers capture a national championship, before starting all 26 games over next two campaigns, winning the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award in 1996 and leading the program to another national title in 1997.

Beginning his coaching career in Lincoln as a graduate assistant in 2002, Frost worked his way up the ranks, becoming the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Oregon in 2013, and receiving his first head coaching job with the UCF Knights in 2016.

Guiding the Knights to a 19-7 (12-4 American Athletic Conference) record in two seasons – including a 13-0 mark in 2017, which was punctuated by a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over Auburn – he returned to Nebraska in 2018.

Unfortunately for the Cornhusker faithful, the results have been underwhelming thus far, as the program is 12-20 (9-17 B1G) under Frost, with the high point being a 5-7 (3-6) 2019.

Amid this investigation, Nebraska will begin their 2021 slate on August 28 by traveling to Champaign to clash with Illinois at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.