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Hoosiers defying expectations at midway point

By Patrick Beane

Posted October 11, 2024

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourk throws a pass during the Hoosiers' win over Northwestern last week. (IU Athletics)

There was no doubt in Curt Cignetti’s mind that he could turn Indiana’s football program around when he took the job last winter.

“It's pretty simple,” Cignetti said. “I win. Google me.”

And he has.

Indiana was picked to finish 17th in the 18-team Big Ten before the season but has already won as many conference games as it did in the last three seasons combined.

And at 6-0, the Hoosiers are off to their best start since 1967. And, they’re already bowl eligible.

It’s all a bit out of character for a program that has traditionally not been very good.

But Cignetti overhauled the team in the off-season. Along with a number of coaches, he brought more than a dozen players with him from James Madison.

The Dukes went 11-1 in the regular season last year and earned a berth in the Armed Forces Bowl.

So winning at Indiana is no surprise to Cignetti.

“These are guys that came from championship programs that have now won 20 of their last 21 games, OK, and a lot of other transfers that come from good programs,” he said. “And the guys that stayed had a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.”

Seven starters in last week’s game at Northwestern came to Indiana from JMU, including running back Ty Son Lawson, leading receiver Elijah Sarratt and defensive standouts Mikail Kamara and Aiden Fisher.

Another eight starters transferred from other schools, including running back Justice Ellison and receiver Keyshawn Williams.

And then there’s quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a former Mid-American Conference player of the year at Ohio University.

The 6-foot-5 Rourke has thrown for 1,753 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

“It’s awesome to be able to have such great athletes and playmakers all around receiver room, this is one of the deepest in the country, with one of the best running back rooms in the country,” Rourke said. “And, so put that together with the O-Line, and then the way they're playing. I mean, that's why we're able to put up so many points.”

The Hoosiers have the third-best scoring offense in the country, averaging 47.5 points per game. In total offense, they’re sixth with 515.7 yards per game.

Defensively, they rank seventh in the nation, allowing just 255.7 yards per game.

The first half of the season did include three non-conference opponents that Indiana dominated. But the Hoosiers also went undefeated against Big Ten opponents UCLA, Maryland and Northwestern

The second half will be more difficult for the Hoosiers. It includes back-to-back games against No. 24 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State before finishing with Purdue.

“I'm proud of the team up to this point, which I'm usually not supposed to say, but we can certainly improve a lot more,” Cignetti said.

Indiana has a bye this weekend. The Hoosiers play again next Saturday when they host Nebraska for Homecoming.