Kurtis Rourke injury update: Latest on Indiana QB as backup Tayven Jackson takes over vs. Nebraska

Indiana sixth-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke suffered a hand injury on the follow through of a pass attempt in the second quarter of a 56-7 win over Nebraska.

The FOX Sports broadcast showed Rourke’s hand bleeding. Even though the Ohio University transfer ultimately remained in the game for the Hoosiers’ final offensive series of the first half — on which he threw a Hail Mary interception — he didn’t play a second-half snap.

FOX Sports sideline reporter Jenny Taft said coming out of halftime that Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti told her Rourke’s thumb was “fine,” but backup quarterback Tayven Jackson trotted into the game for the Hoosiers’ first drive of the second half.

Jackson, the lone returning quarterback from Indiana’s 2023 roster, completed 7-of-8 passes for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Hoosiers turned a 28-7 halftime lead into a 56-7 win.

Rourke — who went 17-of-21 for 189 yards, a touchdown and that pick — was in an Indiana sweatsuit on the sideline in the third and fourth quarters.

“They don’t provide more updates on his status and the severity of that thumb injury, but I can tell you they have padded it a little bit more, that right thumb obviously,” Taft said in the second half.

“He was dealing with that bleeding in the first half, but his spirits remain good. But we see the score as well. He’s a happy guy right now.”

No. 16 Indiana improved to 7-0 with its blowout win Saturday afternoon in Memorial Stadium.

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

Before Jackson took over in the second half, Gus Johnson made a bold statement about Rourke.

“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.”

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.”

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 conducted a high-scoring Hoosiers offense while routinely making correct decisions on run-pass-option plays. He 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.

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.