The two have grown so close that after each played a half in Indiana’s most lopsided Big Ten victory since 1945, Jackson put his arm around Rourke and they walked together to the student section. And now Jackson has a chance to lead Indiana to a record-tying 8-0 start.

Indiana quarterback Tayven Jackson seemingly spent his entire life preparing for Saturday — leading his home state team onto the field for one of the biggest games in program history.

Life as a backup quarterback isn't easy, but Indiana football didn't miss a beat when Tayven Jackson stepped into the game against Nebraska.

Quarterback injuries can ruin a season and sometimes negatively affect a program’s long-term trajectory. Indiana is familiar with that from