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Max Olson, ESPN Staff Writer
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke exited the No. 16 Hoosiers’ 56-7 win over Nebraska on Saturday with an injury to his throwing hand and did not play in the second half.
Rourke injured his right thumb while getting hit on a pass attempt in the second quarter. He stayed in the game and threw for 189 yards on 17-of-21 passing with one touchdown and one interception while leading the Hoosiers to a 28-7 halftime lead.
Rourke was on the sideline in street clothes during the second half, which Indiana coach Curt Cignetti called a precautionary move.
“He hit his thumb on, I believe, a helmet and his nail kind of came off,” Cignetti said. “We’ll know more tomorrow, but optimistic.”
Backup Tayven Jackson, who started five games for Indiana in 2023, replaced Rourke for the second half and threw for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 7-of-8 passing while leading four touchdown drives.
“I thought he went in there and did a good job,” Cignetti said. “The team had confidence, and I was proud of him.”
Rourke, a sixth-year senior transfer from Ohio, has emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender while guiding the Hoosiers to their first 7-0 start since 1967. He was ranked No. 1 nationally in passer rating (192.11) and No. 3 in QBR (91.9) entering Saturday.
The Hoosiers’ offense enjoyed another dominant day despite his injury, producing 495 yards and only punting once against a Nebraska defense that ranked seventh in FBS in scoring defense. Justice Ellison rushed for 105 yards and two scores, and Indiana’s defense intercepted Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola three times in the 49-point rout.
“I think this says a lot about our team,” Cignetti said. “Now I know there was a national perception that Nebraska had a pretty legit defense on a national scale, so that’ll open their eyes. But I think this is a great team win.”
Indiana faces Washington (4-3) at home next Saturday and is closing in on the program’s first Associated Press top-10 ranking since 2020.