How will two-QB system look for Illinois State? More ‘feel’ than script, says Spack

Illinois State junior quarterbacks Tommy Rittenhouse (left) and Jake Rubley will both see playing time Saturday against the Iowa Hawkeyes in ISU’s season opener. (Photos by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)  

By Barry Bottino  

Playing two quarterbacks is still brand new to Illinois State head coach Brock Spack.

How will that system look when the Redbirds hit the field Saturday at FBS Iowa? (11 a.m., Big Ten Network)

Well, there won’t be a script, Spack told Prairie State Pigskin on Wednesday.

Instead, how much and when junior returnee Tommy Rittenhouse and fellow junior Jake Rubley – a Kansas State transfer – will play is going to be determined by game situations.

“That’s much more accurate than saying, ‘On series three, this guy will play, then on series seven this guy is going to play,’” said Spack, who will be using a two-QB rotation for the first time in his 16 years at ISU. “It will be a feel thing more than predictable.”

Spack first announced the two-quarterback system in June to Prairie State Pigskin.

Rittenhouse started three games at the end of the 2022 season and two last fall in relief of injured starter Zack Annexstad.

He has proven to be a weapon using his legs, including throwing on the run, which he did effectively in last fall’s season finale against North Dakota, a 22-21 loss in which he completed 21 of 33 passes for a career-high 241 yards and a touchdown, while rushing nine times for 66 yards.

Rubley, who spent three seasons with the Wildcats, saw limited game action with six appearances and four pass completions during that time. However, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Colorado native has displayed a strong arm since arriving in Normal.

Regardless of who’s playing Saturday against the Hawkeyes, Spack expects both players to get opportunities.

“We don’t want to (take a guy) out of the game that’s really hot,” Spack said. “Sometimes you don’t want to yank a guy out of the game when he’s made a big mistake. You want that guy to fight through that and develop some mental toughness.

“It depends on what we’re looking for, what the situation (calls for) and what we need to incorporate in our offense as to which guy will be the best at that particular situation.”

Spack also left the door open for one player to handle the role by himself at some point this season.

“Maybe one of these guys takes the bull by the horns and takes it over,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s going to happen. I hope it does.

“But both players are so good at what they do well. That’s why we’re doing this.”

Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and spent 19 years at three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.  

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