Kurtis Rourke has done Canada proud. (Indiana University Athletics)

This week, Bill Belichick ended speculation when he opted to take over as UNC’s new head coach; Oregon and Penn St. again squared off for Big 10 supremacy; and QB Darian Mensah, the top rated player in the transfer portal, has opted to switch from Tulane to Duke.

Kurtis Rourke Proves He’s an NFL Prospect

Talk about a turnaround. The Indiana Hoosiers have gone 2-10, 4-8 and 3-9 over the last three seasons, respectively. What about that run could have prepared anyone for them to post an 11-1 mark this year, finishing tied for second in the Big 10 while ranking eighth in the AP poll (and at one point, as high as fifth)?

And now Indiana is headed to its first ever CFP game as the 10th seed, and while it’s the underdog against a talented Notre Dame squad, who knows? Given the Fighting Irish’s penchant for coming up short in big games, an upset is not out of the question.

If there had been any doubt about the Hoosiers being CFP-worthy, they probably squashed that idea with their season finale, a 66-0 humiliation of Purdue. Senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke sure had fun in his final regular season college game, becoming just the third Indiana passer to ever record six touchdown throws in a contest (following Bob Hoernschemeyer, 1943, and Tre Robinson, 2013).

For Rourke, this was his best overall performance since he dismantled Western Illinois in Week Two and capped the finest season of his career after transferring from Ohio for his final collegiate year. He set personal bests in completion rate, YPP and touchdown passes. The only thing Rourke didn’t do this year is flash the same kind of running skills he had shown with the Bobcats.

The level of performance he was able to establish in moving to a power conference surely has NFL scouts taking a second look. Rourke is excellent at anticipating what his receivers will do and getting the ball where it needs to be. But he’s definitely a pocket passer, so when protection breaks down, he struggles to escape and extend the play. Rourke may not be the strongest thrower — so don’t expect him to thrive with deep plays — but he’s damn accurate, and that’s a biggie.

Expect this Canadian to go in either the third or fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft with potential to be a low-end starter. Hey, if Aidan O’Connell can be an NFL starter, surely Rourke deserves a shot too, right? But if not in the NFL, then perhaps Rourke can win Gold at the Olympics for his country.

The Confident Cam Skattebo

Another program that turned things around in a huge way this year is the Arizona State Sun Devils. Coming off back-to-back three-win seasons, ASU enjoyed its first 11-win season since 1996, resulting in first place in the Big 12 and a debut appearance in the CFP.

It’s still unknown who the Sun Devils will play on New Year’s Day, but if it’s Texas, their chances aren’t great (currently they’re 13.5-point ‘dogs should they meet the Longhorns as per FanDuel).

Arizona State finished the season with a flourish, winning its final six including a complete annihilation of 16th-ranked Iowa State, 45-19. Talk about making a statement that they deserved a spot in the field of 12, huh? Not too shabby for a team that was expected to finish near the bottom of the conference in its first year in the Big 12.

The Sun Devils are led by senior running back Cam Skattebo. He set the tone in the last game, bursting 28 yards on the team’s opening play en route to a 170-yard performance — the fourth time he’s managed at least many rushing yards in a game this season.

Skattebo certainly doesn’t lack confidence, claiming he’s the best running back in the country. He may have a point after setting a new ASU record with 2,074 yards from scrimmage this season.

The power back didn’t do a ton last year in his first season with the Sun Devils after transferring from Sacramento State, but in 2024 he enjoyed career bests in carries, yards and TDs while also enjoying his best season from a receiving standpoint.

In next year’s draft, he’s sure to draw plenty of interest; in fact, Tennessee — seeking to improve its RB depth — is said to be a clear fit for his talents.

Skattebo has a decent chance of going off the board among the top dozen running backs in 2025, and if you’re seeking comparisons, think former Tampa Bay fullback Mike Alscott, who racked up over 5,000 yards rushing over an 11-year career between 1996 and 2006.

Projections for where Skattebo may go in the draft are all over the map, with some believing he can be a top 10 pick and others thinking he’s a mid-to-late Day Three choice. We expect him to go around the third or fourth round.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

Pianist Billy Joel was so good on the ivory that he earned the nickname “Piano Man,” the name of one of his best-known tunes from 1973. From his Greatest Hits Volume III, here’s a cover of Leonard Cohen‘s “Light as the Breeze,” one of three new tracks on the album.

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