Sunday Morning Quarterback with Jay Stockwell and Bob Frady

Sunday Morning QB
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Football
  • Updated Weekly

If you're a football enthusiast or simply love diving into engaging sports analysis and predictions, this season is a must-listen! Tune in to the SMQ podcast and join the conversation on the future of football.

  1. Jan 6

    Nebraska Had the Money… And Still Blew the Season

    Nebraska had the resources, the facilities, and a schedule that set up perfectly. and somehow it still slipped away. This clip breaks down the frustration from a season that should have been different, and why fans are running out of patience. From missed opportunities to bigger program-level issues, this is an honest Husker conversation about expectations, accountability, and why “next year” isn’t good enough anymore. If you’re a Nebraska fan, you’ve felt this pain before.

    39 min

  2. 12/30/2025

    This Feels Familiar

    Nebraska football is changing, but are they changing the right things?In this episode of Sunday Morning Quarterback, Jay, Bob, and George break down everything surrounding Nebraska’s bowl matchup, recent coaching changes, and what those decisions really signal about the program’s direction.We dive into:- Why this bowl game feels like a mismatch- Nebraska choosing a system over personnel- Defensive staff changes and what they actually mean- Transfer portal uncertainty, especially at quarterback- Whether this is real progress, or the same cycle repeatingThere’s optimism. There’s frustration. And there’s a familiar feeling Nebraska fans know all too well.Go Big Red!

    33 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    Iowa Hung 40 on Us. Then the Firings Started.

    Iowa Postgame and Butler fired! Wow…that was quick. Iowa rolled into town and - despite the heroics of team MVP Emmett Johnson - steamrolled the Big Red 40-16. While Jay was optimistic in calling for a Big Red victory, Bob saw this coming in last week’s podcast, predicting an Iowa blowout. The game actually started well and was a 1-point game late in the 2nd quarter. A late score put Iowa up by 8 at halftime. Not great, but not insurmountable. The problem is, Nebraska is a terrible second-half team. Not counting the tomato cans from Akron and Houston Christian, Nebraska was outscored 138-82 this season in the second half. The only two times they scored more than an opponent were the Michigan State and Northwestern games. There are really only two reasons for continually getting outscored in the second half. The first (and most obvious) is the lack of halftime adjustments by the coaching staff - time after time SMQ seemed to see a light switch go off with other teams that said “here’s how we’re going to beat them and they’re powerless to stop us.” The second reason is that the team is out of shape and gets worn down. With the advent of the 3-minute break on timeouts, you would think this is a lesser concern…but who knows. The end result? Embarrassment, combined with a serious re-thinking of Coach Rhule’s extension. While we were busy licking our wounds and wondering what was going to happen, Coach Rhule dropped a bomb and fired defensive coordinator John Butler. In a world where things move fast, THAT was fast. Whenever you make such a big decision, it begs one question: Did Rhule know that he was going to do this before the game? As business guys, Bob and Jay know that “knee-jerk” decisions aren’t really so knee-jerk. The next question is, what other dominoes are going to fall? While TJ Lateef did his best to run the offense, the Huskers went from over 25 points a game with Raiola (not counting the tomato cans) to only 18 with Lateef (and 13 in the last two games.) To be fair to Butler, if your offense can’t score, you’re already behind the defensive 8-ball. At SMQ, we think the problem is one of philosophy - we keep bringing in JV offensive and defensive philosophies into the Big 10. For the defense, we bring in a Pro-style defense that protects the pass first…while teams maul the Huskers in the run game. For the offense, we have long, long, long-developing plays that lack the speed needed to win in the Big 10. Letting Butler go is a good first step. The big question is - what happens next?

    27 min

  4. 11/26/2025

    Nebraska Fans… This Iowa Prediction Is Brutal 😳 | SMQ Meltdown Mode

    SUNDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: The “Corn Supremacy” EditionNebraska rebounds and defeats Iowa 21-14.Black Friday in Lincoln has always carried its own electricity, but this year’s Heroes Game feels especially charged. Nebraska sits at 7–4, coming off a humbling 37–10 loss at Penn State, licking wounds and reevaluating identity. Yet here come the Iowa Hawkeyes, the annual reminder that while both states grow corn, only one grows the kind people actually want to eat. Nebraska’s is sweet, golden, and worthy of a Thanksgiving table. Iowa’s… well, it looks like it was grown in a ditch beside a fireworks stand and tastes like gravelThis week marks the beginning of a new chapter for Nebraska football. With Dylan Raiola sidelined for the season and recovering from a fractured fibula, the offense now belongs to T.J. Lateef. The freshman brings California cool, but Black Friday in Lincoln demands something more elemental, grit that cuts through cold winds and pressure-filled drives. The question isn’t whether Lateef has talent. It’s whether he can shoulder the weight of a rivalry defined by razor-thin margins and emotional swings that carry through the entire offseason.If Lateef is going to succeed, he’ll need help from the most dependable unit on the team: the ground game. The Law Firm of Johnson, Nelson & Ives must be open for business from the opening whistle. Emmett Johnson has been the workhorse, but this is a game that demands depth and physicality. Mekhi Nelson and Kwinten Ives can spell him with the kind of complementary styles that challenge even Iowa’s famously stubborn front. Establishing the run does more than control the clock, it unlocks Lateef’s play-action ability and gives threats like Dane Key and Jacory Barney Jr. the downfield opportunities that Iowa hates to defend. Oh and let’s not forget about the tight ends. SMQ has been calling for the tight ends for weeks.On the defensive side, the Blackshirts must rediscover their bite. Without Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher after their departures to the pros, the burden shifts to Cameron Lenhardt and Elijah Jeudy to impose themselves at the line of scrimmage. Marques Watson-Trent remains the emotional heartbeat of this group, a missile against the run and a disruptor in passing lanes. Iowa’s offense thrives only when opponents make mistakes. Clean football takes the Hawkeyes out of their comfort zone.Special teams could likely be the difference and Mike Ekeler will have his group ready as always, the most dependable unit on the Husker’s squad.Ultimately, this game comes down to discipline. Iowa survives on field position, turnovers, and forcing opponents into ugly football. Nebraska cannot oblige them. No giveaways. No special-teams disasters. Make Iowa earn every inch, they usually can’t.Memorial Stadium will be loud, cold, and restless. Fans are tired of Iowa’s recent success in this rivalry, tired of close losses, and tired of watching the Heroes Trophy sit on the wrong side of the river. This feels like a day when the energy of Lincoln tilts the field.In a game where style points evaporate and toughness reigns, I’m picking the Huskers to take back what’s theirs.Prediction: Nebraska 21, Iowa 14.The Heroes Trophy returns to Lincoln, and the nation is reminded once again: the good corn grows west of the Missouri.

    17 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    How Nebraska Erased a 16-Point Deficit, and Why They Might Be a Top-10 Team

    Nebraska vs. Penn State: Saturday Night Lights, Corn vs. Mysterious Cat CreatureVegas Odds Makers have this all wrong a +9.5 for NebraskaSaturday night in Happy Valley means one thing: national television, 100,000 fans, and a showdown between two programs that both believe they’re climbing back toward Big Ten supremacy. Nebraska rolls in with momentum, toughness, and a defense that has quietly matured into one of the more disruptive units in the conference. Penn State counters with talent, speed, and of course the Nittany Lion, a mascot that continues to confuse zoologists everywhere. Is it a mountain lion? A house cat with a gym membership? A taxidermy project gone wrong? No one really knows. But he’ll be there, leaping awkwardly and doing that single-paw flex he loves so much.Nebraska arrives with a swagger we haven’t seen in years, and a big chunk of that starts with TJ Lateef, the California-cool quarterback who plays like he’s ordering acai bowls between drives. Lateef has settled into the offense with surprising calm, reading defenses, making smart throws, and keeping plays alive with his legs. He’s not rattled by the moment, the noise, or the fact that a grown man in a furry lion suit is going to be screaming at him from six feet away. TJ’s seen weirder things in Los Angeles.Next to him is the engine of the offense, Emmett Johnson, the best running back in the Big Ten and the human embodiment of “we’re gonna keep running it and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.” If Emmett hits the second level, call your insurance agent because someone’s about to file a claim. Penn State’s linebackers may be fast but fast doesn't matter when you’re meeting a man who treats arm tackles like minor inconveniences and/or speed bumps on the highway to the end zone.Penn State’s defense will throw athletes at Nebraska, but this isn’t the old Huskers offense. This version has rhythm, purpose, and a nasty streak. And defensively, Nebraska is built for this kind of game. The Blackshirts have been punching offensive lines in the mouth all year, and they’d love nothing more than to turn the Nittany Lion into a nervous house cat by halftime.And speaking of the Lion, look, if that creature showed up on your porch at night, you wouldn’t run. You’d hand it a bowl of milk and call animal control. Meanwhile, real corn feeds nations, feeds livestock, and feeds victory. Corn is currency. Corn is power.Prediction: Under national-television lights, Nebraska leans on Lateef’s poise and Emmett’s relentless motor.Huskers 27, Penn State 23.

    16 min

  6. 11/12/2025

    Nebraska Finally Played Big Ten Football

    Swimming pools, movie stars, and VICTORYThe Big Red brings an old-fashioned Big 10 offense to Pasadena to come away with the victory!The Big Red flew into Los Angeles after last week’s defeat to USC at a pivotal point. Without Dylan Raiola - and facing a resurgent UCLA team - would the Huskers have what it took to shake off the loss? Would true freshman TJ Lateef be able to survive behind a porous offensive line? Would we win enough games to go a warm-weather bowl game?For 2+ seasons, the team at SMQ has been screaming for (1) POUND THE ROCK, (2) quick crossing patterns, and (3) 4-5 TE passes per game. You know, BIG TEN FOOTBALL! It turns out that Meatloaf was right - “two outta three ain’t bad.”SMQ has strong feelings for the UCLA game plan. While the final score was 28-21, the real final score was a resounding 39-15! THIRTY-NINE runs against 15 passes. At one point, we even said “maybe they should take a shot downfield!” The Huskers were a study in ball control. Emmett Johnson was a workhorse with 28 carries and TJ Lateef showed just enough speed to keep UCLA’s defense on their heels. The passing game was crossing routes and screens that got the ball out of Lateef’s hands quickly and efficiently.Against all odds, we even saw the inclusion of a WHEEL ROUTE, which SMQ has been screaming about all year! What happens? Touchdown!One thing you didn’t hear about this game? Complaints about the offensive line. While our TE’s didn’t have a catch, they provided power in the running game with multiple “heavy” sets. The Big Red opened lanes for Johnson to let the Huskers “pound the rock and eat the clock.”Lateef was decisive with his runs and finished 13-15 in passing. The kid can play. Being back home could have been a challenge but the Big Red faithful filled the stands and were loud and proud for the Huskers.The result? Victory! 7-3 is a nice place to be.

    27 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    Can T.J. Lateef Save Nebraska Football? | UCLA vs Huskers Pre-Game Breakdown

    Sunday Morning Quarterback – Nebraska vs. UCLA: Corn vs. Anthropomorphic Bears Huskers will thrive with TJ Latiff and Emmett Johnson emerging as a new dynamic duo in the Big 10. Saturday night under the lights at the Rose Bowl, Nebraska marches into Pasadena for a fist fight without their leader Dylan Raiola. UCLA may have the palm trees, the sunshine, and a few anthropomorphic bear mascots, but Nebraska has something far more real, a team built on grit, growth, and good old-fashioned corn-fed toughness with the league’s best running back, Emmet Johnson and a new quarterback TJ Lateef, who is very comfortable in California. This is a dynamic duo that has the potential for a record night.Let’s start with the obvious: Bruins aren’t real (mostly in children’s fables). Corn is. You can feed your family with corn. You can power your car with corn. Heck, you can even brew a little something from it for after the game. Meanwhile, try to find a real-life bruin wandering around Los Angeles, you’re more likely to run into a TikTok influencer in a retro jersey. Advantage: Corn. This game is about more than mascots and metaphors, though. It’s about identity. Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers are at a crossroads with a new quarterback. The defense has found its rhythm in the secondary, but the trenches are concerning. Will TJ Lateef have a breakout game or wilt under the lights? SMQ predicts a breakout game.On the other sideline, UCLA’s high-octane offense can score in bunches, but their line play has been shaky against physical teams. If the Blackshirts can contain the edges and force UCLA into long third downs, the “Corn Curtain” could turn the Rose Bowl into a long night for the blue and gold.SMQ predicts that for Jerry Neuheisel it will not be a great day to be a Bruin. Nico Lamaleava will be pressured and contained. Matt Rhule will emerge from this crossroads with a victory and continue year three of his rebuild with momentum heading into Thanksgiving.Prediction: Nebraska 21, UCLA 14. Corn is greater than Bears all day every day.

    28 min

  8. 11/03/2025

    Did Matt Rhule Just Get Outcoached by the Worst Big Game Coach in America?

    Nebraska throws victory into the jaws of defeat against the worst coach in the Big 10The Big Red start hot but fail down the stretch. Plus, why do we hate our tight ends so much?It was Blackout Night in Lincoln. The crowd was pumped. The team came out firing. Our offense finally got the message and began the game by pounding the rock. Emmett Johnson - one of the two best backs in the Big 10 - turned in an Ahman Green-type performance with 29 (!) carries for 167 yards and a touchdown, the most number of carries since Roy Helu toted the football 28 times against Missouri in 2010.The result? USC spent a lot of time grasping hand-warmers and tossing bad passes. At halftime the Cornhuskers led, 14-6. There was joy in Lincoln.Then came the dreaded halftime adjustment. USC outscored the Huskers 15-3 in the second half. This, despite facing quite possibly the worst big-game coach still employed in th Big 10 - Lincoln Riley. He needed an extremely fortunate trick play to get USC back into the game, when all they really had to do was run the ball over and over - as Nebraska could not stop the run. Dylan Raiola did what he could to keep Nebraska pointed in the right direction until he got crushed on a sack and broke his leg. His injury - combined with a prior injury to Elijah Pritchett - meant that the Huskers would have some real challenges matriculating the ball down the field.If you really think that Nebraska has a leaky offensive line, then there’s an antidote that Nebraska firmly refuses to take - the 5-yard pass to the tight end. For three seasons, we’ve watched long-developing plays turn into sacks (and now, a broken leg) and this game was no exception. While you might want to blame Holgerson, the fact that it’s spanned two OC’s puts the blame squarely on Coach Ruhle.It seems like it would be easier to find someone in the witness protection program than to find a Nebraska tight end. While SMQ appreciates the fact that being an OC is tough, we also know that throwing a 5-yarder to a tight end is way easier than a 20-yarder to a wide receiver - especially when it’s windy and cold.Enter TJ Lateef, the dual-threat freshman from California. The coaching staff seemed to strap him with an ultra-conservative game plan, including NOT going for it on 4th and 1, taking a highly questionable timeout, then missing the field goal. Even if they had ran the play and failed, it would probably not have been a worse outcome than what actually happened. The kid has a cannon. Let him eat.Overall, Nebraska threw victory into the jaws of defeat, primarily because of coaching and an offensive philosophy that continues to ignore the realities of playing in Memorial Stadium. Here’s hoping that light dawns on the staff sooner rather than later.

    25 min
See All (78)

About

If you're a football enthusiast or simply love diving into engaging sports analysis and predictions, this season is a must-listen! Tune in to the SMQ podcast and join the conversation on the future of football.

Information