Miami's Mario Cristobal Discusses Why Cam Ward Sat Out 2nd Half of Bowl Loss vs. ISU
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is not divulging any information about quarterback Cam Ward's absence in the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Ward played in the first half but did not play in the second half of the 42-41 loss to Iowa State. Following the game, Cristobal expressed his desire to keep the details around the decision "private."
"I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we keep them in private and keep them in private," Cristobal said, per Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "So I'll prefer not to answer questions as it relates to that. I know he played his best while he was in there."
Ward went 12-of-19 for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, setting the record for most touchdown passes in a collegiate career in the process. Miami was down 28-27 at halftime and backup Emory Williams took over under center.
Williams went 5-of-14 for 26 yards and an interception in the second half but a rushing attack paced by Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. kept Miami's hopes alive. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, it was not enough, but Ward's presence could have potentially flipped the script and sent them home with an 11-2 record.
Ward is a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft and will likely hear his name called very early by a quarterback-needy team. With this in mind, preserving his health may have been a factor in the decision to not play.
Regardless of what happened, Miami finishes with a 10-win season and will look to the future while Ward will finally get to embrace the NFL Draft process.
