Hurts played for the Alabama Crimson Tide, leading the team to consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship appearances in 2016 and 2017. He was benched for Tua Tagovailoa during Alabama's victory in the 2017 championship game.

Hurts transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he played for the Oklahoma Sooners. He led the team to an appearance in the 2019–20 College Football Playoff.