Miami quarterback Cam Ward didn’t take the field for the second half of Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, but Hurricane fans shouldn’t be worried. Miami backup quarterback Emory Williams started for the team to open the third quarter and immediately led the Hurricanes on a touchdown drive.

Cam Ward's decision to only play the first half of Miami's 42-41 loss against Iowa State in this year's Pop-Tarts Bowl proved to be extremely

Ward didn't play during the second half in a 42-41 loss to Iowa State. Before he exited, the QB threw the 156th TD pass of his career, setting an FBS record. He finished 12-of-19 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns.

Cam Ward only played in half of Miami's 42-41 loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday, and that left fans annoyed. Ward went 12/19 for 190

Cam Ward was lighting up Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl but caught a lot of flack for sitting out the 2nd half in Miami's one-point loss.

The two bowl games — the No. 23 Buffaloes’ Alamo Bowl matchup against No. 17 BYU and the Miami-Iowa State Pop-Tarts Bowl — featured the two top-rated quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. It was a surprise to many that both Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward played in their bowl games.

As great as Cam Ward's one and only season was at the University of Miami, it ended on a sour note. After narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff, the Hurricanes settled for an appearance in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State.