BURSTAdd another notch to a successful final college season for quarterback Kurtis Rourke.
The Canadian, who plays at Indiana University, placed ninth in voting for the Heisman Trophy as spots five through 10 were revealed on Friday. The winner will be announced Saturday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Rourke, of Oakville, Ont., is the first Canadian to land in the top 10 of voting for college football’s most prestigious award since Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard placed eighth in 2020.
No Canadian has ever won the Heisman.
But Rourke’s season isn’t quite done yet. His Hoosiers (11-1) will head to South Bend, Ind., to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) on Dec. 20 to open the expanded playoff bracket.
Rourke has played a big role in Indiana — traditionally known as a basketball school — emerging as a Big Ten contender in head coach Curt Cignetti’s first season.
Rourke completed 202-of-287 passes (70.4 per cent) for 2,827 yards with 27 TDs and just four interceptions in 11 games and last week was named a finalist for the Manning Award, given annually to American college football’s top quarterback.
He transferred to Indiana last December to boost his NFL draft stock after five years at Ohio University, where he began as a backup to his older brother, Nathan, then captured the 2022 MAC offensive player of the year award despite suffering a season-ending knee injury before heading to Indiana after the 2023 season.
A win over Notre Dame would extend Indiana’s stellar campaign while a loss would mark the end of Rourke’s collegiate career.
–with files from The Canadian Press
