After QB switch, Northwestern looks to bounce back against E Illinois

Eastern Illinois (1-1) at Northwestern (1-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (BTN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Northwestern by 24½.

Series record: Northwestern leads 2-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Northwestern looks to bounce back from a 26-20 double-overtime loss to Duke with a different quarterback starting this time. Coach David Braun announced Jack Lausch will be behind center after Mike Wright struggled in the first two games. The Wildcats can’t afford to stumble against their FCS opponent, with a trip to Washington next week to open Big Ten play. Eastern Illinois rebounded from a 45-0 blowout at Illinois to beat Indiana State 27-20.

KEY MATCHUP

Northwestern LB Xander Mueller against Eastern Illinois’ blockers. Third-team, all-conference last season, Mueller was all over the place with 11 tackles against Duke after a relatively quiet opener against Miami (Ohio).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Eastern Illinois: QB Pierce Holley has thrown for 3,156 yards in two seasons at Eastern Illinois, though he has more interceptions (three) than touchdown passes (one) this year. He also spent four years at Georgetown.

Northwestern: Lausch becomes the first Chicago native since Mike Kafka in 2009 to start at quarterback for Northwestern. He made 10 appearances over his first two seasons, throwing for 78 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for a score in 2023. Wright, who spent last year at Mississippi State after three seasons at Vanderbilt, has just 334 yards passing with one interception and no TD passes. He also has run for a score.

FACTS & FIGURES

Eastern Illinois is 0-10 all-time against the Big Ten and 6-40 against FBS opponents. ... RB MJ Flowers has 121 yards rushing after running for 854 and eight scores as a freshman. ... Northwestern beat Eastern Illinois 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 last week. 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. ... WR A.J. Henning ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a team-leading 13 receptions.

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