Is Cam Ward playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl? Miami Hurricanes quarterback update

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward could be the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Is he playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl today?

Ward lit up opposing defenses all season long, finishing the game with 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns through the air to lead the top-rated offense in the country. He was the third Hurricane to win the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top QB and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.

Given his long list of accolades and bright future, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he decided to sit out the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State and preserve his health for the draft in April. Ultimately, Miami missed its chance to make the College Football Playoff by losing to Syracuse in the final game of the regular season.

Watch Miami vs. Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl live on Fubo

But Ward has said for weeks that he wanted to play one last game for UM, perhaps to get that bad taste out of his mouth. The Hurricanes’ stumbles down the stretch weren’t his fault, after all: He threw for 797 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in their two losses. And a strong performance against a strong Cyclones defense (their 161.7 passing yards allowed per game is third in the NCAA) would be another positive note on his NFL Draft resume.

Here’s what we know about Ward’s bowl game status, including his stats and opt-outs for Miami and Iowa State:

Will Cam Ward play in the bowl game?

Ward has said multiple times that he intends to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, including the morning before the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

“Yes sir, I will attend the game,” Ward said when asked on SportsCenter on Dec. 14. “Our team, we are ready, we have been preparing for this all week. We had time to relax and relax our bodies, but every day we become more concerned with the game plan for Iowa State.

Coach Mario Cristobal said Monday that he wasn’t surprised by Ward’s decision to play: “I mean, we still have unfinished business.” He reiterated that on Friday.

“Cam’s DNA, his upbringing, everything he’s made of is the right stuff, the stuff you want your team to be made of,” Cristobal said. “…He understands how important it is to finish and he understands the caliber of opponent we’re playing and how important it is to play at a really high level to give us that in this game to give you the best opportunities.”

Ward isn’t the only player expected to go high in the NFL Draft who opted out of his team’s non-CFP bowl game. Heisman winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders are expected to play for Colorado in the Alamo Bowl against BYU on Saturday night.

Cam Ward stats

Cam Ward transformed Miami’s offense after spending two years at Washington State. With their star QB at the helm, the Hurricanes fielded the No. 1 offense in the country, scoring 44.2 points per game and averaging 538.2 yards per game. Ward led the No. 2 passing offense with 359.2 ypg and ensured UM held the ball for 32 minutes per game, ninth-best in the country.

Here’s a look at Ward’s stats for the 2024 season, including his rank among qualified FBS passers (participating in Friday’s bowl games):

Completions/Attempts: 293/435
Degree of completion: 67.4% (14th)
Passing yards: 4,123 (2nd)
Passing yards per game: 343.58 (2nd)
Passing yards per attempt: 9.5 (9th)
Passing touchdowns: 36 (T-1st)
Interceptions: 7
Passing efficiency: 171.06 (4th)
Wears: 58
Rushing yards: 196
Rushing touchdowns: 4
Receptions: 1
Receiving yards: 7
touchdowns received: 1
Total yards: 4,326
Total touchdowns: 41
Responsible points: 254

Cam Ward NFL Draft Projection

Ward is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Multiple mock drafts predict the New York Giants will select him with the No. 1 overall pick.

Opt-out options for Miami Bowl games

The Hurricanes have no players listed as opting out, but will be without a handful of players who have entered the transfer portal. Chief among them is wide receiver Isaiah Horton, Miami’s third-leading receiver with 616 yards and five touchdowns, who transferred to Alabama. Running backs Ajay Allen and Chris Johnson Jr. are also leaving via the portal.

Iowa State bowl game opt-outs

The Cyclones also have no players opting out, although they too will be without some players who have entered the transfer portal. Iowa State lost three defensive ends to the portal, including Tyler Onyedim, who made 33 tackles this season, including three for a loss.

When is the Miami vs. Iowa State game? Pop-Tarts Bowl time, TV schedule, streaming information

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, December 28th
Where: Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
TV: ABC
Streaming: ESPN+ | Fubo

Miami vs. Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl begins Dec. 28 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers will referee the game from the dressing room at Camping World Stadium, while Cole Cubelic will report from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and Fubo.

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