LINCOLN, Neb. — Former Nebraska head coach Scott Frost’s ongoing legal battle against his alma mater is far from over. A Lancaster County judge ruled on Wednesday to allow a key portion of Frost’s lawsuit against the University of Nebraska Board of Regents to move forward, denying the university’s motion for a full dismissal. While the ruling removes a major legal hurdle for Frost, the court also declined to entertain his request for declaratory relief, ensuring that the drawn-out controversy will continue through the court system.
At the heart of the suit—originally filed in December—is a dispute over how the university handled Frost’s post-termination buyout taxes. Following his firing in 2022, Nebraska reported the «present value» of his future 2025 and 2026 buyout payments on his 2022 W-2 form, totaling $9.5 million instead of the $4 million salary he actually received that year. Frost claims this accounting method saved the university money while saddling him with an unexpected $1.7 million tax liability, along with accrued penalties and legal fees.
A $5 Million Claim and an Unresolved Grudge
Now back at UCF as head coach, Frost is seeking $5 million in total damages ($2.5 million for each of the 2025 and 2026 seasons) as an offset under his original employment agreement. Although Frost avoided mentioning Nebraska during his recent appearances at Big 12 Media Days, Lancaster County District Judge Kevin McManaman’s decision proves that the financial rift between the two parties remains unresolved.
While neither side appears willing to back down, legal experts note that Frost still faces a lengthy process before seeing any potential payout. Nevertheless, the court’s decision ensures that despite parting ways on the field, Nebraska Football and its former coach remain locked in a slow-moving legal stalemate off it.