INDIANAPOLIS — Tayven Jackson, the quarterback for Indiana, has been preparing his entire life for this moment — leading his home state team in one of the most significant games in the program’s history. All that stands between him and this opportunity is a game against the 13th-ranked Washington.
Indiana’s head coach, Curt Cignetti, announced on Monday that Jackson will take the starting position. This decision came after Kurtis Rourke suffered a thumb injury during the first half of last weekend’s dominant 56-7 victory over Nebraska, which will keep him sidelined for an undetermined period. “Kurtis Rourke will not be playing this week. We anticipate his return during the regular season due to his thumb injury, but I won’t comment on specifics,” Cignetti mentioned at his weekly press conference. “Our team has complete faith in Tayven Jackson. He performed exceptionally well in the latter half of the last game.”
Cignetti did not provide further information regarding Rourke’s injury, though it appeared to have occurred when his throwing hand unexpectedly collided with the helmet of a Nebraska defender late in the second quarter. Rourke had already thrown for 189 yards and one touchdown, contributing to Indiana’s 28-7 lead at halftime, but he finished the game watching from the sidelines.
In his short relief outing, Jackson performed admirably, completing 7 of 8 passes for 91 yards, scoring two touchdowns, and achieving a remarkable quarterback rating of 99.9, which exceeded Rourke’s rating of 89.8. Jackson also rushed for 21 yards on two attempts, contributing to another 28 points scored by the team in the final half.
Jackson’s background has prepared him for this spotlight. His father, Ray, was part of Washington State’s Rose Bowl team in 1998 and had a three-year career in the NFL. His older brother, Trayce Jackson-Davis, excelled as an All-American basketball player at Indiana. Additionally, Jackson led the prominent Center Grove High School to an undefeated record during his junior and senior years before starting his collegiate career at Tennessee.
Many fans hoped that Jackson would step into a starting role almost effortlessly when he decided to transfer to Indiana after the 2022 season. However, he found himself competing for playtime with Brendan Sorsby throughout the season. Following the firing of coach Tom Allen, Sorsby decided to enter the transfer portal. On the other hand, Jackson chose to remain even after Rourke, the Mid-American Conference MVP in 2022, committed to the team.
While Rourke secured the starting job and helped Indiana achieve its most significant victory in school history, along with the program’s best start since 1967, Jackson took the opportunity to enhance his skills and connect with Rourke over time. Their bond became evident when the two shared a moment together after team victories, with Jackson supporting Rourke as they walked toward the student section. Now, Jackson has the task of guiding Indiana toward potentially tying the record with an 8-0 start.
Cignetti expressed confidence in Jackson’s readiness for facing the Huskies, last season’s national finalists who enjoyed a bye week prior to this matchup. “I felt Jackson did very well in the second half. Now, he’ll have more practice opportunities to prepare for Saturday’s game. He’s highly capable and will certainly rise to the challenge,” Cignetti said.
Nonetheless, stepping in for Rourke will not be a simple task. Rourke currently leads the Big Ten with a quarterback rating of 188.7, shares the lead in touchdown passes with 15, and ranks second in completion percentage at 74.6%. His outstanding performance has earned him a spot in discussions for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and even considerations for the Heisman Trophy.
At this juncture, Jackson must become more than just a potential future quarterback for Indiana; he is now expected to play a crucial role in maintaining the momentum of what has been a remarkable season for the Hoosiers. “Each player has a purpose here, right?” Cignetti reflected. “In this sport, injuries happen at every position. Being the starter presents a different set of challenges. I’m sure he’s eager to step up.”