The Indiana Hoosiers are 5-0 for the first time since 1967. In that season, the Hoosiers finished 9-2 and appeared in the program’s first bowl: The Rose Bowl. Unfortunately, that Rose Bowl loss was the only in program history but the new Indiana quarterback, led by the new head coach, has been turning heads.
Who is Kurtis Rourke? Where did this guy come from and how is it he is quarterbacking a perennial basement-dweller to a perfect 5-0 start? Fans of #MACtion know Rourke well and are frankly not surprised by his success. However, if you are not well-versed in the purest form of college football that is the Mid-American Conference, meet the “Maple Missile.”
Who is This New Indiana Quarterback? Where Did He Come From?
The Rourke name is well-known in Athens, Ohio. Nathan Rourke, Kurtis’s older brother, was the starting quarterback for the Bobcats from 2017-2019. The younger Rourke had huge shoes to fill as his brother led Ohio to a 26-14 (16-8 MAC) record and three straight bowl wins.
When the new Indiana quarterback got his opportunity at Ohio, he took advantage. He got his feet wet in 2020 and passed for 386 yards and three touchdowns in three games. In the 2021 season, Rourke started to take over the role and passed for 1801 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games.
Then, he broke out. In 2022, Rourke led the MAC with 3,257 yards and 25 touchdowns. His 69.1 completion percentage also led the conference. As a result, Rourke won the 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. However, his Bobcats did not win the MAC as Rourke was knocked out of the 11th game due to a torn ACL.
Last year, he got back to his old ways, leading the MAC while completing 63.5 percent of his passes. However, his overall production took a dip and he only finished with 2,207 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He entered the transfer portal and left Ohio as a legend. Rourke passed his brother and finished with 7,651 yards, good for second-most in program history. His 50 touchdowns are third-best, just 10 behind his older brother. Rourke’s 66.3 percent mark is the best in program history.
The New Hoosier
Fast-forward to 2024 and Rourke is reminding the college football world of what he can do.
Despite being ninth in passing attempts and seventh in completions in the Big Ten, Rourke leads the way with 11 touchdowns (in a three-way tie) and is second with 1,372 yards. Through those five games, he is on pace to shatter his career-best while completing 73.2 percent of his passes.
Folks, Kurtis Rourke is the real deal. pic.twitter.com/1BHftqjVa7
— taylor from bite-sized bison (@ByTaylorL) September 29, 2024
The new Indiana quarterback was part of a massive transfer class that brought 31 new faces to Bloomington. With Curt Cignetti coming over from James Madison, there was a convoy of former Dukes headed west and Rourke rode the wave as it passed through Athens, Ohio.
To put into perspective Rourke’s impact — paired with the generations of futility at Indiana — he’s already 30th all-time in passing yards and 27th in touchdowns. The Indiana schedule is favorable and incredibly back-loaded. However, in terms of career passing, if Rourke keeps up this pace, he will finish with 3,293 yards (15th-most) and 26 touchdowns (11th-most).
Already, Rourke leads the program while completing 73.2 percent of his passes.
Looking to the Future
Indiana has had strong starts in recent history but each has fizzled out. That 2020 season was fun but the best thing the Hoosiers did that year was keep within seven with Ohio State. Indiana is in its 126th season of football. Only 25 times has Indiana won six games in a single season. 12 teams have won seven. Eight teams have won eight. Two teams won nine.
All of those marks are well within reach.
With Rourke, the Hoosiers have a legitimate shot to join those two nine-win teams. Indiana has seven games remaining and four are at home. Currently, only two future opponents are ranked. The 23rd-ranked Hoosiers’ schedule is:
- October 5 at Northwestern
- BYE
- October 19 vs Nebraska
- October 26 vs Washington
- November 2 at Michigan State
- November 9 vs Michigan
- BYE
- November 23 at Ohio State
- November 30 vs Purdue
Indiana has byes ahead of quite possibly the two best complete teams left on the schedule. In reality, the Hoosiers have a shot at 10 wins. Northwestern and Purdue should be wins. Nebraska, Washington, and Michigan State are winnable. Michigan is just defense and having a bye before Ohio State (plus this game is the week before Ohio State vs. Michigan…) could be spicy.
Plain and simple, the new Indiana quarterback, the Maple Missile himself, gives Indiana a legitimate shot at being included in the College Football Playoff discussion as an at-large. If the Hoosiers can manage to knock off either of the bluebloods on the November slate, that conversation gets very real.
