Wright out, Lausch in.
Unsatisfied with Northwestern’s quarterback play, coach David Braun and his staff have made a switch under center.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch will start against Eastern Illinois on Saturday, replacing Mike Wright, who started Northwestern’s first two games of the season, Braun announced in his presser Monday.
“The growth that we’ve seen out of Jack Lausch…specifically from January on, has been something that leads us to have a lot of optimism, not only for this week but for the future,” Braun said.
Lausch and Wright were in a fierce preseason battle for the opening day job, but after Wright struggled in Northwestern’s 26-20 double overtime loss against Duke, finishing 19-of-35 for 156 yards and an interception that set up a Duke score, Lausch will take over. Against Miami of Ohio in Week 1, Wright finished 18-of-30 for 178 yards, without a touchdown or interception.
On the ground, the Mississippi State transfer ran the ball nine times for 19 yards against the Blue Devils, but couldn’t recreate his efficient 65 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in Week 1 against Miami of Ohio.
Braun made it clear several times that taking care of the football is the number one priority for Lausch.
“Assignment sound, just executing our offense and valuing the football,” Braun said on what he’s looking for from Lausch. “We need to win the turnover margin, that’s something that we emphasize. Your ultimate responsibility is to protect and value the football.”
Despite no career starts under his belt, Lausch does have some experience, playing in 10 games last season. The Chicagoland product completed two of three passes for 10 yards in 2023, but his usage as a gadget option last season helped him gain on-field reps. Lausch also completed four of eight passes for 68 yards in his collegiate debut against Illinois at the end of 2022.
Similar to Wright, Lausch’s best attribute is his ability to run the football and keep defenses on their toes. In 2023, he tallied 19 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, including a 53-yard day powered by a career-long 46 yard run against UTEP in Week 2.
When asked about the quarterback switch, Braun made it clear he discussed it with his staff.
“Everything we do as a staff is collaborative,” Braun said. “At the end of the day, the decision falls on my desk, but [offensive coordinator] Zach [Lujan] and I are in complete alignment with that decision.”
Looking to move to 2-1 on Saturday against the only FCS opponent on its schedule, Northwestern will test out its new gunslinger. As a redshirt sophomore, if Lausch thrives, Northwestern could potentially see continuity at the quarterback position for the first time since the end of the Clayton Thorson era.