Cameron Ward’s halftime exit of the Pop-Tarts Bowl created a media firestorm.
Everybody from Ringer NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay to School Soccer Corridor of Fame head coach Steve Spurrier criticized the transfer, becoming a member of hundreds of others on social media as Ward stood on the sidelines through the second half a 42-41 loss to Iowa State. From one perspective, appeared like a snap resolution to opt-out.
Ward taking part in a half or 1 / 4 was the plan all alongside behind the scenes at Miami, in line with sources with information of the scenario.
Ward needed to play, setting Division I profession information for passing touchdowns (158) within the course of. And Miami needed to take a look at his backup quarterback Emory Williams for an prolonged interval to see what it might have for the 2025 season.
Thus, each have been all the time presupposed to see time within the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
“(It was) first quarter to a half max and switch the keys over to Emory for the second half,” a supply stated. “As they did.”
That plan wasn’t communicated publicly by Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, who added gasoline to the fireplace postgame by declining to touch upon the scenario.
“I believe all conferences with gamers and selections like that, we must always make them in personal and preserve them in personal,” Cristobal stated.
Miami all the time supposed to get an extended have a look at Williams. After he went 5-for-14 with an interception as Miami squandered a 31-28 halftime lead, it seems the fact-finding mission has paid off. Miami, which already went after Washington State QB John Mateer earlier within the cycle, is anticipated to pursue different choices at quarterback, studies David Lake of 247Sports’ Contained in the U. Although, rolling with Williams in 2025 stays an choice.
There was speak that Ward solely needed to play within the sport to interrupt Case Keenum’s D-I all-time passing landing document, which Ward did in with 4:12 within the first quarter with a four-yard go to Jacolby George. However Ward, a attainable No. 1 decide within the 2025 NFL Draft, didn’t exit the sport at that time. He performed 4 extra collection, serving to the Hurricanes safe a halftime lead.
Nonetheless, the discourse surrounding the sport centered nearly solely on Ward exiting the sport early regardless of a number of different Hurricanes starters sitting out the sport and each high quarterback draft decide from final season (Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels) opting out of their bowl sport. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Ward’s contender to be QB1 within the 2025 NFL Draft, performed everything of the Buffaloes’ loss to BYU within the Alamo Bowl.
By any measure, Ward’s story is among the most profitable no-star to varsity famous person narratives in faculty soccer historical past. It ends with an odd twist of the narrative.
MORE: An insider have a look at Miami’s QB choices in 2025, in line with 247Sports
