Enthusiasts may have another probability to observe Cam Ward orchestrate the country’s No. 1 offense when No. 13 Miami performs No. 18 Iowa State in Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl at Orlando, Fla.
Ward, the fourth-place finisher for this yr’s Heisman Trophy and a most probably top-10 select within the 2025 NFL Draft, showed previous this month that he’s going to play. He instructed Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in a viral video that “you’ll see the most productive factor that ever came about within the Pop-Tart(s) Bowl. … Them ‘Canes child.”
Of the groups that did not make the School Soccer Playoff, Miami and Iowa State are the highest-ranked techniques enjoying every different. It’s their first assembly.
“The depth can be excessive. Each groups in point of fact need this,” Miami trainer Mario Cristobal mentioned. “And the contest and the caliber of athlete and participant at the box goes to be superior.
“So, it method so much to (us). And I am positive it method so much to Iowa State as smartly.”
Mentioned Cyclones trainer Matt Campbell: “It is indubitably a superb opportunity for Iowa State soccer. And now we have nice recognize for the whole thing they stand for.”
The Hurricanes boast a high-powered offense that ranked No. 1 within the country in issues (44.2) and overall yards (538.3) in step with sport within the common season.
Ward, a switch from Washington State, set a couple of single-season college information, throwing for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns whilst finishing 67.4 p.c of his makes an attempt and tossing seven interceptions.
Ward’s height receiver, All-American Xavier Restrepo, hasn’t mentioned whether or not he’s going to play within the bowl sport, whilst operating again Damien Martinez, a fellow senior additionally anticipated to be drafted, has introduced that he’s going to.
The ‘Canes input with a 10-2 report — handiest the second one time in twenty years they recorded double-digit wins within the common season — however misplaced two in their ultimate 3 video games, at Georgia Tech and at Syracuse, and because of this a place within the Atlantic Coast Championship Sport.
That in large part used to be because of their protection, which surrendered 42 issues within the ultimate 3 quarters towards the Orange and 271 dashing yards to the Yellow Jackets.
Iowa State (10-3), which does not have any reported opt-outs, gained 10 video games for the primary time at school historical past, attaining the Giant 12 Championship, the place it misplaced to Arizona State 45-19. Its different losses have been a one-point house defeat to Texas Tech and a 45-36 setback at Kansas.
“Clearly, I believe you might be in unchartered territory for Iowa State soccer,” Campbell mentioned of successful 10 video games. “Anytime you have got a possibility to place an exclamation level on a few of the ones issues, it is tough.”
Campbell mentioned the senior elegance is “perhaps one of the particular teams we have coached right here,” including, “to ship them out the appropriate method could be nice for Iowa State soccer.”
Rocco Becht has finished 59.3 p.c of his passes for three,235 yards and 22 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. Vast receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are the primary duo at school historical past, and the one pair nationally this season, with 1,000 yards every. Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III every rushed for greater than 500 yards.
Iowa State’s protection allowed handiest 21.5 issues in step with sport — the Cyclones are 6-0 when giving up fewer than 20 — and is highlighted via defensive tackles J.R. Singleton and Domonique Orange, in addition to defensive backs Beau Freyler and Malik Verden, the crew’s height two tacklers. The Cyclones intercepted 14 passes and recovered 8 fumbles.
“They are in point of fact explosive on offense,” Cristobal mentioned. “And they have at all times performed nice protection. … Very disciplined, very hard-nosed, very difficult and really bodily.”
–Box Degree Media
