The Indiana Hoosiers are getting some great news as their quest for a playoff berth continues this weekend.
Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke is set to return from a one-game absence as the Hoosiers take on host Michigan State on Saturday in an effort to stay undefeated this season, head coach Curt Cignetti announced, according to the Herald-Times’ Michael Niziolek.
“Kurtis Rourke will start and play the game,” the coach said on his radio show. “He has taken more reps every day, he built on Tuesday, he took every rep on Wednesday and every rep today and every day he looks sharper and sharper and sharper. He means so much to the team and the offence.”
Rourke underwent thumb surgery last Tuesday, but the team has been optimistic in recent days about his return for the all-important Big Ten matchup against the Spartans.
“Optimistic on Kurtis Rourke; he’s thrown the last few days, building up,” said Cignetti, the first FBS coach to post back-to-back 8-0 starts at different schools. “(His) workload will increase as the week goes on. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
Rourke, 24, suffered the thumb injury in a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Oct. 19. He was ruled out for last week’s game against the Washington Huskies, but backup Tayven Jackson managed to guide the team to a win.
The Oakville, Ont., native has been on a roll this season after transferring from Ohio, completing 74.6 per cent of his passes for 1,941 yards with 15 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Indiana (8-0), ranked 13th in this week’s AP poll, is one of eight unbeaten teams in the FBS ranks.
The new-look College Football Playoff will feature 12 teams.
Indiana is a seven-point favourite against Michigan State (4-4).
If the Hoosiers can beat Michigan State and then top a 5-3 Michigan team the following week, it will set up a huge showdown at No. 4 Ohio State (6-1) on Nov. 23.
Indiana’s season finale is against a lowly Purdue (1-6) squad.
Rourke transferred to Indiana from Ohio for his final college season, joining new coach Cignetti. The quarterback is ranked as the top prospect for next year’s CFL Draft, though he is expected to attract NFL interest with his play this year on the Big Ten stage.
Indiana is off to its best start since 1967 and could reach 9-0 for the first time by beating the Spartans (4-4, 2-3) and claiming the Old Bass Spittoon.
— With files from the Associated Press
