After two games, Kurtis Rourke is already setting a new standard in Indiana.
The Hoosiers broke a 123-year-old school record for most points in a single game with their 77-3 win over Western Illinois last Friday and totaled 701 yards of offense – also the most in program history. Combined with a 31-7 win over Florida International in Week 1, Indiana has outscored its opponents 108-10 in two season-opening victories.
Rourke, who moved to Indiana for his final year of play after five seasons in Ohio, can only claim partial credit for last weekend’s records, and that’s only because he was taken out of the game at halftime against Western Illinois.
Had he stayed in, things might have gotten even more out of control. In two quarters, Rourke completed 15 of 17 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns, leading Indiana down the field with ease. The Hoosiers scored 42 of their 77 points in the first half and had rushed for 415 total yards before reaching the locker room.
Things get tougher from here on out. On Saturday, Indiana travels west to visit new conference foe UCLA and has nine meetings with Big Ten opponents in its last 10 games – a stretch that is sure to shape the Hoosiers’ season and determine whether or not they have truly turned over a new leaf under new head coach Curt Cignetti.
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A closer look at Rourke and Indiana by the numbers:
3-24: Indiana’s record against Big Ten opponents since 2021
Remember that the upcoming stretch will surely define the Hoosiers’ season?
For this reason.
Here’s one reason for optimism: Indiana is actually a favorite on the road against UCLA this weekend and has a good chance to keep up with schools like Maryland and Purdue, both of which it faces at home this season. Of the Hoosiers’ 10 conference games, only three are against teams currently ranked — No. 23 Nebraska (Oct. 19), No. 17 Michigan (Nov. 9) and No. 3 Ohio State (Nov. 23).
A lot can change between now and December, but Indiana has a real chance to win a few games. If they win six, they’ll be bowl eligible.
33: Years since Indiana’s last bowl win
The year was 1991, and the Hoosiers — featuring future Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner Trent Green — defeated Baylor 24-0 in the Copper Bowl (now known as the Guaranteed Rate Bowl). Indiana has played in six bowl games since then, losing each time — most recently to Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
70: Total number of outgoing and incoming transfers under the Cignetti system
Indiana’s reorganization began at the head coaching position this year, when Cignetti brought in 13 players from James Madison, which went 11-2 last season and won the Sun Belt. In total, the Hoosiers signed 33 players through the transfer portal — Rourke was one of the headliners — and lost 37, which was more than any other Power Four school.
8: Quarterbacks from Indiana selected in the NFL Draft
Rourke’s move from the MAC to the Big Ten brings him attention in one of college football’s elite leagues, although it has historically been a challenge for Indiana quarterbacks to get on the NFL’s radar.
In the 90-year history of the NFL Draft, only eight Hoosier quarterbacks have been selected, with Green (of Copper Bowl fame) being the only one to have a significant impact.
One notable outlier: Michael Penix Jr. – drafted eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in April after being a Heisman finalist last season and leading Washington to the CFP championship game – played parts of four seasons for Indiana between 2018 and 2021.
53: Career touchdown passes for Rourke
Rourke has made the most of his 35 college starts, and his 53 career touchdown passes are the second-most by a Canadian in NCAA history. Only his brother Nathan has matched that with 60 in four seasons at Ohio. If he stays healthy, Indiana’s 11 remaining regular season games should be enough for the younger Rourke to plant his flag at the top of the list.
Rourke’s best year was 2022, when he threw 25 touchdown passes with just four interceptions and earned MAC Most Valuable Player honors despite an ACL injury that ended his season in mid-November.
1: Rourke’s ranking on the CFL Scouting Bureau’s list of 2025 draft prospects
Regardless of whether north or south of the border, Rourke has a professional career ahead of him.
For the second fall in a row, Rourke was at the top of the CFL Draft list before the start of the college football season.
