Indiana Quarterback Kurtis Rourke Named Top Five Heisman Candidate

The sixth-year senior is showing he is ready for big-time college football.

Tanner Johnson | Oct 17, 2024

Indiana's Kurtis Rourke (9) gets loose before the Indiana versus Maryland football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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The Huskers faced off against one elite quarterback once this year when they defeated Shedeur Sanders and Colorado. Now, they will be facing another.

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke has taken the Big Ten by storm so far this year. Through six games, he has passed for 1,752 yards and 16 touchdowns with just two interceptions. The native Canadian has been just what the Hoosiers needed and has exceeded all expectations placed on him when he landed in Bloomington out of the transfer portal from Ohio. Up next, he faces the Huskers and their sturdy defense.

Rourke is starting to get the national attention he deserves heading into the Nebraska matchup. ESPN released its top five Heisman Trophy candidates earlier in the week, and Rourke was listed at No. 5. It is a well-deserved midseason recognition for a player who has played the best football of his career in 2024.

Rourke has guided a transformation of Indiana's offense along with a stable of other transfers brought in by new head coach Curt Cignetti. Before the season, not many would have pegged the trip to Indiana as one of the toughest games on Nebraska's schedule. However, at this point in the season, this will be the toughest game the Huskers have played. The Hoosiers' potent passing attack will provide a formidable challenge to the Blackshirts, a unit that has looked elite at times this season.

However, the Huskers' defense cannot simply key in on the passing game. The Hoosiers are an excellent running team and have 23 rushing touchdowns this year, compared to Nebraska's 11. Long story short, the Huskers have not been tested on defense the way they will be Saturday by Rourke and Indiana's offense.

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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

Published Oct 17, 2024|Modified Oct 17, 2024

TANNER JOHNSON

Tanner Johnson is a sports writer and journalist who has experience covering multiple sports, collegiate and professional. He reports on a national level using his knowledge of teams from all over the country. He has provided coverage for the Tennessee Titans, Tennessee Volunteers, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Florida State Seminoles. He is also a co-host of Triple Option A College Football Podcast. On this podcast, he provides a national coverage of college football and engages with fans and members of the media.