After taking over the offensive keys ahead of Week 3, Northwestern redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Lausch leapt into the limelight as a Power Four starting signal caller.
He’d previously run gadget plays as a designated scrambler, but coach David Braun and first-year offensive coordinator Zach Lujan threw the Chicago native straight into the fire.
Now, Lausch will enter a new gauntlet against No. 2 Ohio State Saturday.
“They do a good job up front of getting pressure and stopping the run, disguising and playing a few different coverages — and they fly around and make plays,” Lausch told The Daily on Tuesday. “They’re good athletes, but we have good athletes too. We have good players, trust in the scheme. There are definitely some areas to exploit, and we’re excited to go do that.”
The Brother Rice High School alum has experienced his fair share of ups and downs, leading the Wildcats (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) to a 3-4 record in his first seven appearances.
Lausch said every step of his journey has been crucial to his development.
“I’ve always been good at preparation and understood the importance of that, but ever since I’ve started, (I) really understand the importance of watching film and getting looks,” Lausch said. “Once you get in the game, there’s live bullets flying. You have to trust your training, trust your film prep.”
In the span of just two months, Lausch made his first career start against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 14, earned his first Big Ten win against Maryland on Oct. 11 and led his first game-winning drive in overtime at Purdue on Nov. 2.
Come Saturday, Lausch will complete a new milestone when he starts for NU against the Buckeyes at Wrigley Field. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, Lausch said the opportunity to play at The Friendly Confines is one he doesn’t take for granted.
“I grew up going to games here a ton,” Lausch said. “Obviously, it’s an awesome place to play, awesome place to watch a game. I’m definitely pretty fired up for this weekend.”
Lausch, a former top 250 MLB prospect, has spent countless hours in various ballparks. He rose to prominence as an outfielder in southern showcases and ascended the ranks of Illinois’ high school baseball scene.
But his first-ever trip to Wrigley Field is one he’ll never forget.
“I just remember how passionate and loyal the fans are,” Lausch said. “If it’s a summer day, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a full house. Just the energy and atmosphere of the stadium — I’ve been to a lot of baseball games, and (Wrigley Field) was different from all the other ones.”
Had a scholarship offer from former head coach Pat Fitzgerald never surfaced late in Lausch’s senior year, the former baseball star might’ve started at Wrigley in the 2023 and 2024 baseball seasons with the Notre Dame program he’d originally committed to.
Lausch had even practiced with the NU baseball team during last year’s preseason, but he ultimately opted against picking up a second collegiate sport, according to Brother Rice baseball coach Sean McBride.
As he eyes his program’s first-ever win at Wrigley Field, Braun said the week’s game plan will revolve around maximizing his team’s strengths. That involves scheming his dual-threat quarterback into open space.
“Utilizing Jack in the run game is something that is certainly within his wheelhouse and his strengths,” Braun said. “Need to be aware of how much we’re exposing him to that, but when our team shows up, starts fast and plays in all three phases, we can win close games. We can play with anybody.”
Much like when his high school baseball squad took on the nation’s No. 1-ranked team in IMG Academy, Lausch is set to spearhead an upset effort against the highest-ranked opponent of Braun’s tenure.
While he won’t be at the plate for a walk-off home run, Lausch said he and the ’Cats are full of confidence despite the stacked odds.
“We believe if we’re at our best, we can beat anybody,” Lausch said. “That’s just taking it one day at a time, building that belief through work, practice, preparation and going out and being us. When the clock hits zeroes, we’ll look up at the scoreboard and see what happened.”
For Lausch, NU must stick to its program identity despite the comprehensive challenge it’ll face in Chicago.
Although the ’Cats will enter the game as double-digit home underdogs — with the line currently at 29.5 points — Lausch said his faith in NU is unwavering, no matter where his team lines up for its weekend battle.
“This is pretty special — getting to play against a top-two team in a stadium like that is awesome,” Lausch said. “I’m excited to go out and enjoy it, but at the same time, just go execute. Just be us and just be me.”
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