Cam Ward made historic strides in his final collegiate game with the Miami Hurricanes, setting a new NCAA record for touchdown passes. During the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Ward connected with Jacolby George for a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter, marking his 156th career touchdown pass and surpassing the previous record held by Case Keenum, who threw 155 touchdowns from 2007 to 2011.
In the first half of the game, Ward went on to throw three touchdown passes, raising his total to 158. Despite his impressive performance, Miami fell short against Iowa State, losing the game 42-41. Emory Williams took over as quarterback in the second half for the Hurricanes.
Looking ahead, Ward’s record might be challenged by Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, who has 153 touchdown passes and could increase that total with the potential of three additional games in the College Football Playoff. Regardless, Ward’s accomplishments position him as one of the top quarterbacks in NCAA history.
By the end of his collegiate career, Ward recorded a total of 17,999 passing yards, ranking him third in NCAA history. He accumulated 6,908 yards at Incarnate Word, 6,968 at Washington State, and 4,123 yards at Miami. The all-division NCAA record for touchdown passes is held by John Matocha, with 162 touchdowns at Colorado School of Mines.
Additionally, Ward made significant contributions to the Miami program during his single season, finishing as the single-season leader in yards, completions, and touchdown passes. He was also on track to break the Hurricanes’ completion percentage records.
As Cam Ward exits college football, he leaves behind a legacy that will inspire future generations of players. His resilience and achievements highlight the potential for greatness in collegiate sports, and he will be remembered as a prominent figure in NCAA history.