Everyone who underestimated Kurtis Rourke can take a trip in history. He’s not your typical American QB. So, his prominence in the FBS carries more weight than his contemporaries. And his transfer to Indiana proved that he’s much more than the biased rankings. But how did his chemistry begin with Curt Cignetti, which would give the Big Ten program unprecedented success in his final CFB season?

Why do you think Curt Cignetti calls Kurtis Rourke a “warrior”? Because he’s leading an underrated team to a pristine 10-0 towards the CFP? As Big Ten Network posted on Instagram on November 23, the senior QB impressed his HC even before the season began. Cignetti said in the video, “We needed a quarterback, and Kurtis Rourke, he jumped right out. I saw a guy that was sort of wired to play quarterback. He could make all the throws, get out of bad situations, get you back in normal downs, you can just tell on tape he knows how to play the position…Kurtis liked the opportunity, and the rest is history.”

Kurtis Rourke was the No. 1 recruit in Canada out of Holy Trinity School in Oakville, Ontario, in the class of 2019. But he was just No. 2,221 overall because of the low rate of exposure for Canadian recruits. After his high school, he joined Ohio University for five years, where he started three seasons, the same college where his older brother Nathan Rourke played.

Kurtis Rourke transferred to Indiana to play his final college football game this season. His transfer paired with Cignetti’s signing turned the Hoosiers’ history around who went 3-9 last season. Now they’re one of the three undefeated teams in 2024. “To find a fit like Indiana, we’re just really thrilled, thankful and excited. We take it one game at a time and we’re just thankful to be along for the ride,” Kurtis’ mother, Robyn Rourke, said. And with the skills that he’s playing with, the 24-year-old is rising above most of the competition. 

Kurtis Rourke – A Canadian force to reckon

Kurtis Rourke is the third Canadian QB to start a game for an NCAA’s four power conferences. And he nailed this rarity by becoming one of the nation’s most productive QBs by recording 2,410 yards and 21 touchdowns. As far as ratings go, he’s the top-rated passer in the FBS (93.2) with the top-2 efficiency rating (182.7). 

His productive season also made him a contender for several awards, including the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and more. You can’t hear more pride from a person’s words, as we heard from Curt Cignetti, who said of his star QB, “He’s a warrior. He may not look like a warrior, he may not present himself as a warrior. He’s a warrior.” Still, both the new HC and QB will face their toughest battle yet when they face No. 2 Ohio State for one of the most anticipated college football games of the season.