Quarterback Cam Ward Sets Record, Hurricanes Fall in Pop-Tarts Bowl

On Saturday, star Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward made history at the Pop-Tarts Bowl. With a 33-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, Ward set a new record for the most collegiate passing touchdowns in Division I history, surpassing Case Keenum with his 156th score. However, Ward didn’t play in the second half, and the Hurricanes lost a heartbreaking game 42-41 to Iowa State. Head coach Mario Cristobal kept the reasons for Ward’s absence private after the game. Despite the loss, Cristobal praised the team’s effort. “It’s painful when you don’t win, ” he admitted, “but we have a lot to build on. ” Ward’s first record-breaking touchdown came on a lobbed pass into the end zone, caught by Jacolby George. The quarterback added two more touchdowns in the second quarter, including a 40-yard catch-and-run with Joshisa Trader and a 33-yard bomb to Elijah Arroyo.

However, Ward’s contribution ended at halftime. Emory Williams took over in the second half but struggled, completing only 5 of 14 passes for 26 yards. Without Ward and top receiver Xavier Restrepo, who declared for the NFL draft just hours before the game, the Hurricanes only managed 10 points in the final 30 minutes. Ward, a top prospect for the upcoming NFL draft, began his college career at Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State. He set Miami’s single-season touchdown passing record before the bowl game and became the FBS leader in passing TDs for the 2024 season with three more scores on Saturday. The talented quarterback has been rising in NFL draft predictions, and he's confident in his abilities. “If the Giants get me, they’re getting everything, ” he said before the game. “I’m a winner. ” While Ward-fronted the record, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel is hot on his heels with 153 passing touchdowns going into the College Football Playoff match against Ohio State.

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