The college football season has been filled with exciting performances from some of the game’s best players.
From Ashton Jeanty’s video-game like stats to Travis Hunter’s two-way brilliance, there are a few players who have set themselves apart from the rest.
Those special few are likely to receive an invite to New York, where they’ll find out if they’ve joined the most prestigious club in college football.
They’ll be finalists for the Heisman Trophy, and FOX Sports’ Gus Johnson believes another player should be considered among them: Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke.
“Kurtis Rourke. Gotta put him up there, he has to be considered for the Heisman Trophy with the way he’s playing,” Johnson said during the Indiana-Nebraska game on Saturday.
“I’m going there right now… Kurtis Rourke, has to be in contention for the Heisman trophy now.”
Gus Johnson had some high praise for @IndianaFootball‘s Kurtis Rourke 🏆👀 pic.twitter.com/9UzF2e2q85
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 19, 2024
Johnson’s broadcast partner Joel Klatt initially responded with surprise, but he agreed that Rourke has been among the best players in a top conference this season.
“You would have to have Kurtis Rourke in that conversation,” Klatt said, when Johnson asked if he would put Rourke among the potential offensive MVPs in the Big Ten.
“To that extent, you’re absolutely right. He’s been fantastic.”
Rourke has been extremely accurate for Indiana, throwing 14 touchdowns to only two interceptions entering Saturday’s game against Nebraska. The Hoosiers are also soon to be 7-0 following another win over the Huskers, putting them among the best teams in the country.
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Curt Cignetti has continued his winning ways in Bloomington, as the first-year head coach has Indiana in contention for a conference championship. Cignetti orchestrated a similar rise to prominence for James Madison, helping them elevate from an FCS powerhouse to a successful FBS program.
The Hoosiers are one of three undefeated teams in the Big Ten, joining Oregon and Penn State. They’ll avoid the Ducks and Nittany Lions on their schedule, but they will travel to Columbus to face Ohio State in late November.
With Ohio State already losing once to Oregon, that game could be massive for the Big Ten championship picture.
We’ll see if Rourke can continue his candidacy for the Heisman leading up to and during that game.
Related: Travis Hunter Takes Shot At Heisman Trophy Frontrunner Ashton Jeanty