Rourke matches record with 6 touchdown passes as No. 10 Indiana triumphs over Purdue and now looks ahead to CFP decision

Bloomington, Indiana – Kurtis Rourke connected on two of his six touchdown passes, which ties a record, to Elijah Sarratt. Additionally, Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton contributed with rushing touchdowns, leading No. 10. Indiana dominated rival Purdue with a score of 66-0, successfully reclaiming the Old Oaken Bucket. The team now awaits news regarding its College Football Playoff prospects.

The Hoosiers concluded a remarkable regular season by achieving a school-record 11th victory, finishing with an impressive 11-1 overall record and 8-1 in the Big Ten, securing the No. 10 spot in the CFP rankings. Purdue experienced its most significant defeat in the 125-game series, surpassing the former record of 52-7 set in 1988. Indiana achieved its largest home win in the series, exceeding the 37-0 triumph from 1917, marking the biggest league victory in the school’s history.

Indiana faced a setback as they were knocked out of contention for the Big Ten championship game following No. 4 Penn State’s decisive 44-7 victory over Maryland earlier on Saturday.

Purdue (1-11, 0-9) wrapped up the season with yet another disappointing performance.

The Boilermakers have faced a challenging stretch, enduring 11 consecutive losses. They experienced three shutouts and six defeats by 35 points or more, culminating in Saturday’s game, which marked the most significant loss in Purdue history, surpassing the previous record of 66-7 established earlier this season.

Purdue experienced a winless season in league play for the fourth time since 1946, managed to defeat an FBS opponent only for the second time in the modern era of college football, and faced a shutout by Indiana for the first time since 1945.

The frigid, snowy weather that compelled field crew members to utilize leaf blowers for clearing hash marks and yard lines in the first half only intensified the disappointment of this defeat.

Midway through the first quarter, Ellison’s 2-yard run put Indiana in the lead. The Hoosiers extended their lead to 28-0 with three touchdowns in the second quarter: a 14-yard pass from Rourke to Ke’Shawn Williams, an impressive 84-yard touchdown pass from Rourke to Elijah Sarratt, and a 4-yard run by Lawton.

The Boilermakers were unable to bounce back.
Rourke completed 23 of 31 passes for a total of 349 yards, marking him as the third player from Indiana to achieve six touchdown passes in a single game. Sarratt recorded eight receptions for 165 yards, contributing to Indiana’s dominant performance, outpacing Purdue with a total yardage of 582 to 67.

Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card completed 6 of 13 passes, totaling 35 yards, and threw one interception. He was absent from the second half of the game.

Purdue: The Boilermakers have added yet another painful chapter to what could be the most challenging season in the school’s history: surrendering the Old Oaken Bucket. The inquiries are starting now. What happened that led to this situation? What issues can be addressed? Is coach Ryan Walters set to come back for a third season?

Indiana: The Hoosiers bounced back from their initial defeat with a strong performance. Indiana addressed the blocking errors that had troubled them in the prior two weeks. Although the Hoosiers narrowly missed out on competing for a Big Ten title, they remain in contention to host a playoff game.

The excitement of rivalry week might elevate Indiana’s ranking slightly, but their primary focus is on the playoff selection committee’s decision regarding the Hoosiers.