Indiana star QB Kurtis Rourke to miss game against Washington

The Washington Huskies will not have to face star Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke when they travel to Bloomington.

Indiana Hoosiers starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been ruled out for his team’s upcoming matchup against the Washington Huskies in Bloomington on Saturday, October 26.

Rourke, who has recently gained a lot of momentum in the Heisman Trophy discussion after leading his team to a 7-0 start, sustained a thumb injury late in the second quarter when his hand struck an opponent’s helmet. He remained in the game to finish out the half but did not return with the team at the beginning of the third quarter.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Rourke is expected to return this season but, for the moment, has been ruled out indefinitely.

Rourke’s backup, Tayven Jackson, has ties to the Pacific Northwest. His father, Ray, played cornerback for the Washington State Cougars, and his brother, Trayce Jackson-Davis, plays center for the Golden State Warriors.

The redshirt sophomore is the only returning quarterback from the 2023 roster before coach Curt Cignetti took over. Jackson had a solid second half in relief as the Hoosiers cruised to a 56-7 blowout win over Nebraska, going 7-for-8 for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The starting role isn’t anything new for Jackson, who started four games in 2023 in what could be called a rollercoaster ride of consistency. He had a stellar game against Louisville, throwing for 299 yards, but was benched just two short weeks later.

“He played well, he still has to practice better, but it’s hard to be the second-string quarterback because you don’t get as many reps, and we put a lot of new stuff in week to week…I was proud of him,” Cignetti said of Jackson.

Look for defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to look for a way to put pressure on Jackson early in an effort to exploit the inexperience of the Hoosiers quarterback.