Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke’s season was already impressive, as he helped lead the Hoosiers to an 11-2 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff, their best season in program history.
What makes Rourke’s play even more notable is that he was believed to have re-torn his ACL in August and played through the injury, the quarterback’s agent told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero .
Rourke first tore his ACL at the end of the 2022 season while playing for Ohio University.
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke, #9, throws during the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Rourke will undergo revision surgery on his ACL on Wednesday, according to his agent.
If playing with a torn ACL wasn’t enough, Rourke also played with a thumb injury.
During Indiana’s 56-7 win over Nebraska on Oct. 19, Rourke broke the thumbnail on his right hand, his throwing hand, after being hit. X-rays later revealed that Rourke’s thumbnail was broken because he broke a bone in his thumb.
Rourke underwent surgery a few days later, missed only one game, and returned to play against Michigan State on Nov. 2 with two screws in his thumb.
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Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, No. 9, shows his injured thumb during Indiana’s football game against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (IMAGE)
Rourke threw four touchdown passes in the Hoosiers’ 47-10 victory over the Spartans while wearing an underglove splint, according to IndyStar.
Despite playing through a knee injury and eventually a thumb injury, Rourke finished ninth in Heisman voting.
The Hoosiers quarterback completed 69.4% of his passes, throwing for 3,042 yards and 29 touchdowns, compared to just five interceptions.
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke, #9, battles during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Rourke spent the first five seasons of his college career with Ohio before transferring to Indiana ahead of the 2024 season.
Indiana’s remarkable season ended with a loss to Notre Dame in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
Rourke will enter the NFL Draft.
