What happened: San Jose State will start freshman quarterback Daniel Rolovich on Saturday against Northern Illinois, according to Pete Thamel. Rolovich missed last week's game against New Mexico while banged up. Saturday's matchup will be his third start of the season.

Why it matters: Rolovich's return solidifies the Spartans' passing game after head coach Ken Niumatalolo and offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann evaluated the quarterback rotation during practice. His availability stabilizes the offense heading into non-conference action.

What to watch: The Spartans face Northern Illinois on Saturday as Rolovich seeks his second victory as a starter.