The Miami Hurricanes fell in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to Iowa State over the weekend, 42-41. After the game, many were critical of quarterback Cam Ward. Ward

Miami coach Mario Cristobal tried to explain why quarterback Cam Ward didn’t play in the second half of Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl by not explaining it at all. Ward didn’t finish out the bowl game loss to Iowa State, which presumably had to do with the unnecessary injury risk ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Pop-Tarts Bowl wasa summary of what the entire season was for the Miami Hurricanes. Cam Ward is amazing and everything after him has question marks. That includes coaching head coach Mario Cristobal took to the podium after losing three of the last four games to end the season as the Hurricanes fail to close out the Iowa State Cyclones.

It’s making sure that our our task is not only to develop great football players and win games, it’s also to develop young men for what is right and how to do things the right way.’

Mario Cristobal comments on Cam Ward's absence in the second half of Miami's Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal was short on specifics on why Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward only played the first half of a Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State. Ward had a big first half for the Hurricanes,

Speak co-host Michael Irvin joins Colin Cowherd to discuss Cam Ward sitting out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

The tart popped back out. Cam Ward did not. Miami’s quarterback has drawn plenty of heat for sitting out the second half of Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl — a game his Hurricanes lost by just one point — but he’s got at least one defender in former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst Robert Griffin III.

The shifting balance of power in college football is now about what happens next over finishing things out with your current team.