EAST LANSING, Mich. — Kurtis Rourke showcased his skills by throwing for 263 yards and four touchdowns, including a duo of scores to Elijah Sarratt, as No. 13 Indiana soared past Michigan State with a commanding 47-10 victory. This win marks a historic achievement for Indiana, bringing their record to 9-0 for the first time in the program’s history.
Coming off surgery for an injured right thumb that sidelined him last week against Washington, Rourke looked sharp, completing 19 of his 29 passes without any visible issues. The Hoosiers (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) initially found themselves trailing 10-0 in the first quarter but regrouped impressively, scoring 47 unanswered points to secure their ninth consecutive victory, all by double-digit margins. This season marks only the third time in history, dating back to the 1800s, that Indiana has reached nine wins.
Michigan State (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) got off to a quick start with a 47-yard field goal from Jonathan Kim, followed by an 18-yard touchdown connection between Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh. Indiana had not experienced a deficit prior to Kim’s field goal this season. Rourke quickly countered, orchestrating touchdowns on three of the following four drives. After a 17-yard touchdown pass to Zach Horton, Ty Son Lawton scored on a 1-yard run to give Indiana their first lead. Rourke then closed out the half with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt.
In the second half, the Hoosiers continued to dominate, starting with a safety following a blocked punt by D’Angelo Ponds. Rourke added touchdown passes to Myles Price and Sarratt along with a 29-yard field goal by Nicolas Radicic, before Omar Cooper Jr. capped the scoring with a 16-yard rushing touchdown.
Chiles ended his day completing 16 of 24 passes for 193 yards but struggled with turnovers, throwing two interceptions and leaving the game in the third quarter after taking a hit while attempting to throw the ball away.
Key Takeaway
For Indiana, the victory underlines their status as a formidable defensive team, ranking fifth in total defense this season. Amare Ferrell’s two interceptions, along with a safety, 15 tackles for loss, and seven sacks, contributed to a performance that limited the Spartans to a staggering minus-24 rushing yards. On the other hand, Michigan State’s season has been plagued by turnovers, with Chiles contributing to his 11 interceptions this year, as the team has totaled 18 turnovers against just 17 offensive touchdowns.
Poll Implications
With their ninth consecutive win by double digits, Indiana is poised to climb in the national rankings following this decisive victory.
Looking ahead, Indiana will host Michigan on November 9, while Michigan State will travel to Illinois for a matchup on November 16.