Michigan State redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke is the starting quarterback for today’s game vs. Northwestern.

Lewerke, who has played in just one game this season having completed two passes for 26 yards in the team’s 30-6 loss to Wisconsin a few weeks ago, is a former three-star prospect from the 2015 recruiting class. He ranked as the nation’s No. 16 pro-style quarterback and was the No. 4 recruit from Arizona.

Dantonio decided to go with Lewerke over Tyler O’Connor and Damion Terry, who were the first- and second-string quarterbacks entering Week 7. O’Connor started the first five games for the Spartans, completing 61.9 percent of his passes for 976 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions while leading the team to a 2-3 record.