Cam Ward sets Division I record with 156th career passing touchdown

Miami quarterback Cam Ward entered college football history Saturday in the Pop Tarts Bowl against Iowa State. Ward threw for a touchdown pass to Jacolby George in the early first quarter that marked the 156th of his career.

With that, Ward passed former Houston quarterback Case Keenum for the most touchdown passes of any player in Division I college football history. You can view the moment below.

Ward to George TD

TOO EASY! pic.twitter.com/cZvhOg5kFc

— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) December 28, 2024

Ward began his college career at Incarnate Word on the FCS level in 2020. He would play two seasons for the Cardinals and ended his career there with 71 passing touchdowns before transferring to Washington State ahead of the 2022 season.

The quarterback would go on to enjoy another successful two seasons with the Cougars before transferring again to Miami for his final year of eligibility. He entered the bowl game as the country’s leader in passing touchdowns (36) this year, having also claimed the ACC Player of the Year award.

Ward didn’t slow down after his first touchdown either, as he would later throw for two more to bring his total for the day to three. The game is currently tied at 28 with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter, so he has lots of time to add to that total.

Although Ward is currently the active leader in passing touchdowns, there is another player who is close behind him and still playing. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel has 153 career passing touchdowns and still has potentially multiple games to play if the Ducks can advance in the College Football Playoff.

For now, however, Cam Ward sits atop the list at 158 career TD tosses and counting.

Miami pulls Cam Ward, makes quarterback change in Pop Tarts Bowl

Surprisingly, when the Hurricanes got the ball to start the second half, head coach Mario Cristobal decided to make a quarterback change. Ward exited the game as Emory Williams took over to finish.

As the ESPN broadcast said when the decision was made, nobody would have blamed Ward if he had decided to opt-out of the bowl game. The quarterback is likely going to be one of the top players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, potentially in the top five. An extra game against Iowa State was not going to change the evaluation of Ward at this point of the process.

Ward finished the game completing 12 of 19 passes, going for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Miami was scoring at will with him out there, a common theme for the program this season.

Without Ward, Miami would go on to lose by a score of 42-41 against the Cyclones.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.