With the Spartan offense sputtering lately, offensive coordinator Morris Watts said both quarterbacks, freshman Jeff Smoker and junior Ryan Van Dyke, will play Saturday against Wisconsin.

Van Dyke made his third career start last week at Iowa. Smoker, although younger than Van Dyke, has also made three career starts.

“We don’t have a formula for playing both quarterbacks other than to say they’re both going to see action,” Watts said. “If we don’t play Jeff, then all the time vested in him earlier will be back to square one.”

So far this season, Van Dyke has completed 19 of 42 passes for 254 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Smoker has completed 55 of 107 passes for 709 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Watts also said freshman running back Tyrell Dortch will see more playing time versus the Badgers.

“We have three tailbacks (Dortch, T.J. Duckett and Little John Flowers) and we like to get them all in the game, but we’ve gone away from that,” Watts said. “Looking back on last Saturday (against Iowa) we should have played (Dortch) more.”

Dortch has carried the ball 11 times for 75 yards this season, but didn’t touch the ball against Iowa.