The Miami Hurricanes paid quarterback Cam Ward a lot in NIL money this year, purchasing his services via the transfer portal as a one-year rental to upgrade their program. Ward largely delivered on the investment, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist and leading Miami on a College Football Playoff quest that fell just short.
Given the transactional nature of Ward’s relationship with Miami, his last act as a Hurricane fits. By all appearances he made a cold, me-first, team-second calculation—and the program signed off on it. Ward quit at halftime of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, playing the first half and setting the NCAA Division I record for career touchdown passes, then opting out. He watched the second half from the sideline as Miami bogged down and lost to the Iowa State Cyclones, 42–41.
