Northwestern looks to bounce back from a 26-20 double-overtime loss to Duke with a different starting quarterback when Eastern Illinois comes to Evanston on Saturday night.
Coach David Braun announced Brother Rice alumnus Jack Lausch will be behind center after Mike Wright struggled in the first two games. The Wildcats (1-1) can’t afford to stumble against their FCS opponent with a trip to Washington next week to open Big Ten play.
The Panthers (1-1) rebounded from an opening 45-0 blowout at Illinois to beat Indiana State 27-20.
Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, BTN.
Line: Northwestern by 24½.
Series: Northwestern leads 2-0.
Key matchup
Northwestern LB Xander Mueller vs. EIU’s blockers
A third-team all-conference selection last season, Mueller was all over the place with 11 tackles against Duke after a relatively quiet opener against Miami (Ohio).
Players to watch
EIU: QB Pierce Holley. After spending four years at Georgetown, Holley has thrown for 3,156 yards in two seasons for the Panthers, though he has more interceptions (three) than touchdown passes (one) this year.
Northwestern: QB Jack Lausch. He’ll be the first Chicago native since St. Rita’s Mike Kafka in 2009 to start at quarterback for Northwestern. Lausch made 10 appearances over his first two seasons, throwing for 78 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 80 yards and a score in 2023. Wright, who spent last year at Mississippi State after three seasons at Vanderbilt, has 334 passing yards in two games with one interception and no TD passes. He has run for 84 yards and a score.
Facts & figures
EIU is 0-10 all time against the Big Ten and 6-40 against FBS opponents. … RB MJ Flowers has 121 rushing yards after running for 854 and eight scores as a freshman. … Northwestern beat the Panthers 42-21 in 2011 and 41-0 in 2015, with both games in Evanston. … The Wildcats are one of 15 teams that had not allowed a sack after Week 2. The only other one in the Big Ten is Rutgers. Northwestern allowed seven through the first two games last season. … The Wildcats have six sacks, led by LB Mac Uihlein’s two. … WR A.J. Henning ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a team-leading 13 receptions.
