Miami quarterback Cam Ward sat out the second half of Saturday’s 42-41 loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl after throwing for 180 yards and three touchdowns over the first two quarters in helping the Hurricanes build a 31-28 lead. Ward, a Heisman finalist and record-setter this season as the ACC’s Player of the Year, elected to avoid injury after halftime and gave way to Emory Williams, who managed 26 yards passing and an interception down the stretch.
Ward is a projected first-round selection in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft and was not considered to be a scratch leading up to the game after telling reporters he planned on playing and finishing what he had started this fall with the 10-win Hurricanes.
One of the top players in last season’s transfer portal class, Ward shattered program records in 2024. With his three first-half touchdown passes, Ward set the all-time Division I passing touchdowns record with 156.
Here’s some of the reaction to Ward’s decision to sit out the second half:
I can’t imagine sitting on the sidelines during a game your team can win looking at my teammates putting their bodies on the line and saying “Nah I’m good.”
I don’t care what anybody says , Cam Ward sitting out the second half of this game is a disgrace to the game of Football. Either you riding with us one last game or opt out to begin with ! It’s BS !
Thank you, Cam Ward. No one at the University of Miami has ever played quarterback better. You can make the argument no UM athlete, no time, no sport, has ever been better in a single season.
56 seconds left. Canes down by one. 1 time out. #PopTartsBowl on the line.
Has anyone ever opted out at the halftime of a bowl game?
I can’t remember someone doing it. Cam Ward did it today at the Pop Tart Bowl.
I appreciate that Cam Ward, in this day and age in CFB, played at all. 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…
Same people criticizing Cam Ward for sitting out the 2nd half of the Pop Tarts Bowl, would be saying how dumb it was for him to play if he got hurt. He didn’t have to play AT ALL. Instead he gave us a half of jaw dropping plays. Stop villainizing these student athletes.
How can Cam Ward feel good about this?