IU QB Kurtis Rourke Faces Surgery, Draft Ahead

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke led the Hoosiers to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance and finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, despite playing the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL. Rourke initially tore his ACL in 2022 while at Ohio and re-tore it in August 2024, yet still threw for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also played through a thumb injury that required surgery, which limited him to missing just one game. Rourke will undergo ACL revision surgery ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, where he is considered a mid to late-round prospect. His performance contributed significantly to Indiana's historic 11-2 season, though the Hoosiers were eventually knocked out by Notre Dame in the playoffs. Rourke's resilience and skill have made him a notable draft prospect despite the injury concerns.