Joey Galloway: Indiana should consider sitting QB Kurtis Rourke against Ohio State in pursuit of CFP
This season, Indiana football is enjoying one of its most remarkable and unexpected runs in the program’s history.
A significant contributor to the Hoosiers’ achievements this year — including their first-ever 10-0 record, a top-five ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll, and a projected top-seven spot in the latest CFP rankings — is the team’s starting quarterback, Kurtis Rourke.
However, on a recent CFP rankings show, ESPN analyst Joey Galloway proposed that Indiana might want to bench Rourke when they face No. 2 Ohio State this Saturday.
“If our data suggests it, and I’m Indiana, I might hold Rourke out against Ohio State. Look at what happened to Florida State last year with Jordan Travis,” Galloway stated. “One thing that could hinder Indiana’s CFP prospects is if their quarterback gets injured. We saw that happen to Florida State last year after they hadn’t faced strong opponents.”
Galloway, who played for Ohio State from 1991 to 1994, was referencing the missed College Football Playoff chance of undefeated Florida State last year after their quarterback, Jordan Travis, suffered a season-ending injury in Week 12 against North Alabama.
Saturday’s matchup for Indiana is crucial not only for their CFP chances (currently positioned as a No. 7 seed) but also for their hopes of advancing to the Big Ten Championship game. A win against Ohio State would likely secure Indiana a spot in the Big Ten title game against No. 1 Oregon, where the victor earns an automatic CFP bid and a first-round bye.
Galloway reiterated his advice on sitting Rourke later in the show while alongside Rece Davis, Booger McFarland, and Greg McElroy at the studio’s big board.
“If I were Indiana, I would prioritize the health of my quarterback,” Galloway noted.
This suggestion met immediate resistance from his colleagues, particularly McElroy, who remarked that sitting the starting quarterback during such a crucial game could be detrimental to team morale, calling it a “culture killer.”
Indiana is scheduled to kick off against Ohio State at noon ET on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, where Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” and ESPN’s “College GameDay” will host their Week 13 pregame shows.
