Kurtis Rourke had a season for the ages in 2024, leading Indiana to the first double-digit win total in program history, as the 11-2 Hoosiers made the College Football Playoff. It turns out Rourke was playing through a major injury.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network shared via Rourke’s agent that the 3,000-yard passer played through a torn ACL.

Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star reported further details. Per Osterman, Rourke partially tore his ACL “during the summer.” As Pelissero noted, Rourke is believed to have re-torn the ligament in August. Osterman reports that Rourke did not tell IU medical staffers of any further discomfort or aggravation, so no further exams were conducted after the summer injury. Rourke originally injured the ligament in 2022 when he played at Ohio.

Rourke played in 12 of Indiana’s 13 games this season, throwing for 3,042 yards. He rewrote school record books with 29 passing touchdowns and a completion percentage of 69.4%.

The game Rourke was missed not because of the ACL but due to a broken thumb in the win over Nebraska. He returned for the Michigan State contest and played the remainder of the 2024 campaign.

Indiana’s 2024 campaign ended with a 27-17 loss to Notre Dame in the first round of the College Football Playoff.