After a three-pass touchdown performance to start the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday afternoon, Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward elected to sit out the second half of the game.

Ward, a 2024 Heisman finalist and someone widely considered one of the best players in the 2025 NFL Draft, appeared to make a business decision in his final college game – choosing to protect his health while he prepared for the professionals.

Although the 22-year-old did not speak to the media after the contest, his head coach Mario Cristobal did. Here’s what he had to say about the decision to use Ward for the final two frames:

“I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we make them privately and keep them private,” Cristobal explained, via Adam Lichtenstein of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “That’s why I prefer not to answer questions about this. I know he did his best there.”

Ward was 12 of 19 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns before exiting the contest as Miami held a 31-28 halftime lead. When Emory Williams took over as quarterback, the Hurricanes couldn’t hold on – and the Iowa State Cyclones won the Pop-Tarts Bowl 42-41.

Ward’s three points in the first half set the Division I career passing touchdown record of 158, surpassing former Houston Cougars signal-caller Case Keenum’s 155. He will now enter the NFL as one of this year’s top quarterback prospects.