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Gus Johnson on Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke: 'He has to be in contention for the Heisman Trophy'

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•10/19/24•

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Kurtis Rourke by Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke attempts a pass against Nebraska in Week 8. (Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Gus Johnson believes Indiana sixth-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke is more than just a nice transfer story.

“Let’s just say it right now: Kurtis Rourke, you got to put him up there,” the longtime FOX Sports play-by-play announcer said with still-undefeated and No. 16 Indiana leading Nebraska, 28-7, at halftime.

“He has to be in contention for the Heisman Trophy.”

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That statement took Johnson’s broadcast partner, Joel Klatt, by surprise.

“I’m going there right now,” Johnson said.

Klatt chimed in: “I got to button up with something like that.”

Johnson replied: “Yeah, you better button up.”

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Then Johnson followed up with a question to Klatt: “If the season ended today, who would be the offensive MVP in the Big Ten?”

“Well, with this first-half performance, you would have to have Kurtis Rourke in that conversation,” Klatt said. “So, to that extent, you’re absolutely right. He’s been fantastic.”

Rourke, a transfer from Ohio University, completed 17-of-21 passes for 189 yards in the first half Saturday against Nebraska, throwing one touchdown and one interception along the way. He conducted a high-scoring Hoosiers offense while routinely making correct decisions on run-pass-option plays.

Rourke entered the day with 1,752 passing yards — in other words, 292 passing yards per game, the second most of any Big Ten quarterback this season — and a 14:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

He’s already earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors twice. The Oakville, Ontario, native has turned in a trio of 300-yard passing games so far.

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Rourke was one of 30 transfer additions Indiana made this offseason, as new head coach Curt Cignetti reconstructed a Hoosiers roster that came into the 2024 season with 54 total newcomers.

Rourke arrived in Bloomington having made 33 career starts at Ohio, where he piled up 61 total touchdowns (50 passing, 11 rushing) and only 16 interceptions across five seasons. He was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. He’s got a shot at winning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 — and maybe even the Heisman Trophy, according to Johnson.

Rourke, however, didn’t start the second half Saturday against Nebraska.

He suffered an injury to his throwing hand while completing his follow through on a first-half pass attempt. Although he remained in the game the remainder of the first half — and FOX Sports sideline reporter Jenny Taft said coming out of halftime that Cignetti told her Rourke’s thumb was “fine” — backup quarterback Tayven Jackson trotted into the game for the Hoosiers’ first drive of the second half.

Jackson took the baton from Rourke and helped Indiana put a bow on a statement-making blowout victory.