Kurtis Rourke

Ohio

Rourke was the starting quarterback for the Ohio Bobcats football team. After redshirting in 2019, he shared time at quarterback with Armani Rogers in 2020 and 2021. He was named MAC student athlete of the week on October 27, 2021, and September 27, 2023. As the starting quarterback for the Bobcats in 2022, he was MAC East offensive player of the week three times during the 2022 season. The first time came in week one of the season after passing for 308 yards and four touchdowns against Florida Atlantic. He won the award again in week 4 after passing for a school record 537 yards against Fordham, and also in week 10 with 317 yards and five touchdown passes against Buffalo. After throwing for 3,256 yards and 25 touchdowns, Rourke suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the eleventh game of the season against Ball State. In spite of missing the last game and a half of the regular season, he won the 2022 Vern Smith Leadership Award for MAC Player of the Year.

Prior to the 2023 season, he was included on the watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Walter Camp Award, Manning Award, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. and finished the regular season as second team all-MAC. He entered the transfer portal on December 5, 2023.

Indiana

On December 14, 2023, Rourke announced that he would be transferring to Indiana. On November 30, 2024, Rourke tied a school record with 6 passing touchdowns in a 66–0 victory over Purdue. In 12 games for the Hoosiers, Rourke logged 3,042 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and five interceptions. On January 3, 2025, it was announced that Rourke had played the entire season on a torn ACL in his right knee, and would undergo surgery to repair the injury.

Personal life

Rourke was born to Larry and Robyn Rourke. Rourke's older brother Nathan Rourke, who preceded Kurtis as Ohio's starting quarterback, is a professional quarterback who plays for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Rourke is married to Caroline Rourke.

Rourke is a Christian. He has said, “My identity is in Jesus and not my sport. I may have a bad practice, may have a bad throw, but knowing that, no matter what, Jesus is proud of me. He's proud that I'm there and my goal every day [is] to work to glorify Him.”