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Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward put on a show for the Miami Hurricanes in the first half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State. Ward completed 12 of 19 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns as the Canes took a jaw-dropping 31-28 lead into the locker room.
But that was end of Ward’s day. The presumptive first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft did not return to the game in the second half, instead ceding his position to backup Emory Williams. Williams completed up 5 of 14 passes for 29 yards, including one interception. Miami scored just 10 points in the second half en route to a 42-41 loss.
And fans were not at all happy with Ward’s decision to leave his teammates high and dry.
“Cam Ward opting out at halftime of a close game is just completely unserious behavior. Schools should be able to start fining guys for opting out of games. This is getting ridiculous,” one fan wrote.
“I appreciate that Cam Ward, in this day and age in CFB, played at all,” said NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay. “But I just can’t imagine starting any game with teammates, especially as a quarterback, and electing to pull myself out while my teammates are still trying to finish the job in a back-and-forth battle. I’m a realist. I know the climate. I’m not even knocking Cam here. It’s just different.”
Now, Ward is not all to blame. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal opted to kicked a field goal from the 3-yard line with 9:40 left to play. A touchdown would’ve given Miami a 45-35 lead. Miami’s defense was also an abject disaster. The Canes allowed 415 total yards on the day and things got so bad at one point that they began fighting one another.
So it’s hard to really blame Ward entirely for the loss. But it’s still not a great look for a supposed leader.