Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke will miss at least one game after suffering a thumb injury during the team’s win over Nebraska.
The No. 16 Hoosiers defeated the Cornhuskers 56-7. According to multiple reports, Rourke’s injury will sideline him for the Hoosiers’ Week 9 game against Washington, but should return at some point this season.
Rourke has been one of the best quarterbacks in college football this season as Indiana is off to a 7-0 start. Rourke was 17 of 21 passing for 189 yards, a TD and an interception before leaving the Nebraska game. He was replaced by Tayven Jackson in the second half.
Rourke has become a sleeper Heisman candidate now that Indiana is tied for the lead in the Big Ten. He’s passing 135 of 181 for 1,941 yards and 15 TDs with just three interceptions so far in 2024.
His arrival has been a major boost for an Indiana team that was largely remade starting in 2023 after the arrival of former James Madison coach Curt Cignetti. Rourke, a transfer from Ohio, was the 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year before suffering a season-ending ACL injury late in the season. That year, he was 244 of 353 passing for 3,256 yards and 25 TDs, while also rushing for 249 yards and four scores.
Indiana plays Washington and Michigan State over the next two weeks before hosting No. 4 Michigan on Nov. 9 and No. 4 Ohio State on Nov. 23.
