At Big Ten Media Days in July, Curt Cignetti said Indiana’s trip to the Rose Bowl was simply about going to “an old stadium to kick somebody’s ass.”
On Saturday, the Hoosiers made that vision a reality, with a statement 42-13 victory over UCLA. IU dominated the game from the very beginning, putting immediate pressure on the Bruins and capitalizing on their mistakes. It’s a win and a performance that could force many to readjust their expectations for Indiana this season.
Plenty of Hoosiers turned in standout performances on Saturday. Here are three we’ve identified.
Kurtis Rourke
This should go without saying.
Rourke won Big Ten offensive player of the week, and it’s hard to question his worthiness for that honor. The fifth-year senior was masterful on Saturday, and the numbers back it up. He completed 25 of 33 pass attempts for 307 yards and four touchdowns.
This was one of the best performances by an Indiana quarterback over the last five seasons. Rourke found his receivers all over the field, at all three levels. His downfield prowess was one of the biggest remaining question marks about his game, and he put that on display in Pasadena with four completions of at least 20 yards.
But much of Rourke’s big night happened because of short and intermediate passes, which are more in his comfort zone. And with the blitzes UCLA brought, some of these may have been checks by Rourke, himself. Regardless, finding those outlets with pressure incoming is the sort of veteran presence that can take Indiana far.
The Kurtis Rourke from Indiana’s first two games is a quarterback that raises the team’s floor, the type that won’t give games away and will give his guys a chance. But the version of Rourke that the Hoosiers got on Saturday raises their ceiling. That’s a guy who can win them football games against quality opponents.
Miles Cross
Cross and Rourke have existing chemistry from their time together at Ohio, and it’s starting to carry over to Bloomington. Cross enjoyed his best game since he transferred to Indiana, as he hauled in a team-high six receptions on seven targets for 90 yards and a touchdown. The score came on IU’s opening possession, capping a drive that set the tone for the rest of the game.
Cross is a versatile weapon for IU — against UCLA, he lined up in the slot for eight snaps, while going out wide for 17 snaps. He showed ability to pick up yards after contact in this game, and he already displayed his flair for the big play with his one-handed catch against FIU.
Elijah Sarratt remains Indiana’s best receiver, but Cross is one of many solid options behind him. This big game elevated the Ohio transfer to third on the Hoosiers in receiving yards, at 120 on the year. There’s a chance that this ends up as Cross’ strongest game of the season, or it could lead to an expanded role in the offense and continued production. But either way, it just reinforces how strong Indiana’s wide receivers room is and how many reliable options Rourke has at his disposal.
Amare Ferrell
Across the last three campaigns, from 2021 through 2023, Indiana had four players record multiple interceptions in a season. Ferrell already has two picks in IU’s first three games this year.
None of those players had any sacks in those seasons; Ferrell already has one.
The sophomore has settled in nicely at the rover spot, playing mostly in the slot while also sometimes dropping back at safety or moving up along the defensive line and bringing some pressure. Ferrell has been one of Indiana’s best defensive players so far this season.
Ferrell had two big moments against UCLA. He made a key sack in the first quarter, coming off the edge on a second down in IU territory. And in the fourth quarter, he intercepted UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, a play that all but sealed the Indiana victory.
Pro Football Focus gave Ferrell a 76.9 grade for the week, good for No. 27 among cornerbacks in the country. He did miss one tackle, but he didn’t allow a reception on his two targets.
D’Angelo Ponds gets the headlines as Indiana’s top cornerback, but Ferrell has also been a big part of IU’s strong start to the season. He’ll now look to become the fifth Hoosier since 2019 with three interceptions in a season — and if he can continue to make big plays, he’ll be a critical piece of IU’s defense for the rest of the year.
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