Bloomington, Indiana – The Indiana Hoosiers have announced that starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke will be sidelined indefinitely due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand. This update came on Sunday following his injury during the first half of the game against Nebraska, where Indiana secured a decisive 56-7 victory. Rourke sustained the injury when his hand collided with the helmet of a defensive player from Nebraska.

As the No. 13 ranked team in the nation, Indiana currently holds a 7-0 record and a 4-0 mark in the Big Ten. Next weekend, they are set to face Washington, who stands at 4-3 overall and has a 2-2 conference record. The Hoosiers aim to not only retain their position at the top of the Big Ten standings but also to equal the best start in the school’s history by reaching an 8-0 record.

The responsibility to lead the team will now fall on third-year quarterback Tayven Jackson, who is stepping in as the starting quarterback. Jackson, a transfer from Tennessee prior to the 2023 season, showcased his abilities in the second half of Saturday’s game, completing 7 of 8 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns after the Hoosiers had already established a comfortable 28-7 lead at halftime. A native of the state, Jackson has garnered significant fan support and is also known for being the brother of former Indiana basketball standout Trayce Jackson-Davis, who was an All-American.

Rourke had an impressive season thus far, tying for the lead in the Big Ten with 15 touchdown passes while amassing 1,941 passing yards. He ranks second in completion percentage in the conference, boasting an impressive 74.6%. Additionally, he has achieved recognition as the Big Ten’s offensive player of the week on two occasions this season.

This is not the first time Rourke has faced injury challenges; he previously encountered a season-ending knee injury in 2022, which continued to affect him during his final season at Ohio University. Nevertheless, he earned the title of the 2022 Mid-American Conference MVP.