Mario Cristobal sets expectation for Cam Ward after first loss of season

Another second-half comeback wasn’t in the cards for cardiac Cam Ward and his Miami Hurricanes last week at Georgia Tech.

An early second quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Haynes King — one of 11 Yellow Jackets completions on the day — marked the turning point in a game that saw Georgia Tech hold the ball for close to 10 minutes more than Miami.

Ward, a Heisman Trophy contender with 35 total touchdowns in 10 games this season, had only 10 drives to operate, and just four of them ended in points. Four others ended with the Hurricanes turning the ball over: three times on downs and once because of a fumble.

That fumble resulted from a sack of Ward late in the fourth quarter, dashing Miami’s hopes of an undefeated season.

The Hurricanes fell short, 28-23, and then dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings this week.

Ward completed 25-of-39 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns in the five-point defeat, except his squad was a combined 4-of-14 on third and fourth down.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal was asked postgame about what he expects from Ward following the first loss of the two-time transfer’s Hurricanes career.

“I don’t think he changes,” Cristobal said. “He never has changed. … If the result of the game changes you, you never were what you said you were.

“I have 100% belief in him and everybody on the team. That’s the biggest point of emphasis. Again, it stinks. It absolutely stinks. But 100% belief in everyone, and we got to go back to work and get better.”

Miami is off this week. Then the Hurricanes will enter their final two-game stretch of the regular season, which starts with a home game against 4-5 Wake Forest and ends with a road game versus 6-3 Syracuse.

Ward, who previously starred at FCS Incarnate Word and then at the Pac-12’s Washington State, has flourished this season at Miami.

One of the most prized quarterbacks in the transfer portal this past offseason, Ward picked the Hurricanes and has followed through by piloting the top scoring offense in college football. Miami is averaging 45 points per game this year, the most in the FBS and 13.5 points per game more than the Hurricanes averaged in 2023.

Ward is second nationally with 349.4 passing yards per game. His 32 touchdown passes are by far the most of any quarterback this year. North Texas’ Chandler Morris is next with 26. Plus, Ward has completed a career-high 66.8% of his throws with just six interceptions to his name.

The West Columbia, Texas, native has been spectacular for Cristobal and Miami. He’s so often made something out of nothing and pulled the Hurricanes out of holes that appeared too deep to climb.

Now he’s dealing with his first loss of the season in the heat of an ACC race. How he responds will play a significant role in where Miami goes from here.