ORLANDO, Fla. — In an unforgettable finale to his college career, Cam Ward etched his name in NCAA history. On Saturday, the Miami quarterback accomplished an impressive feat by throwing his 156th touchdown pass during the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State, connecting with Jacolby George for a short 4-yard touchdown as the first quarter neared its end. This remarkable achievement surpassed the previous record held by Case Keenum, who recorded 155 touchdown passes from 2007 to 2011 across both the FBS and FCS divisions.
In an interview with WQAM radio, Miami’s flagship station, Ward expressed gratitude for his journey. “Just blessed, man,” he said, reflecting on his personal growth this year beyond just football. He emphasized the strength of his team, calling it the best he has ever been a part of. “I was just blessed to be here,” he added.
Ward concluded the first half with an impressive total of three touchdown passes, bringing his career total to 158. Following his lead, Emory Williams stepped in to play during the second half for Miami. However, Ward’s record may not stand for long; Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, who is still active and could participate in up to three more games in the College Football Playoff, has currently thrown 153 touchdown passes over his six-year career, which includes time at UCF, Oklahoma, and now Oregon.
Regardless of how long he holds the record, Ward’s resume is already impressive. He was named a first-team Associated Press All-American this season, honored as both the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year and offensive player of the year, and ranked fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. “Cam’s DNA, his upbringing, everything he is made of and stands for is the right kind of stuff; the stuff you want your team made of,” remarked Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. He went on to highlight Ward’s significant influence on their community and program.
At the end of the first half, Ward had accumulated 18,189 passing yards throughout his career, comprising 6,908 yards at Incarnate Word, 6,968 at Washington State, and 4,313 at Miami. This places him third on the all-time NCAA passing yards list, behind only Keenum (19,217) and Gabriel (18,423).
As Ward’s college career comes to an end, he is now a formidable presence on the touchdown leaderboards. The NCAA’s all-division record is held by John Matocha from the Colorado School of Mines with 162 touchdown passes between 2019 and 2023. Following him are Tyson Bagent from Shepherd University with 159 touchdowns from 2018 to 2022, and Braxton Punk from Mount Union and Luke Lehnen from North Central College, both of whom have thrown for 158 touchdowns as well. Ward, with his 158 touchdowns, stands proudly alongside them.
During his only season with Miami in 2024, Ward shattered several school records. He will leave as Miami’s single-season leader in passing yards (4,313), completions (305), and touchdown passes (39). Additionally, he holds the distinction of having the highest completion percentage for a season and a career in Miami history, boasting a season percentage of 65.8%, a record set in 2023 by Tyler Van Dyke, and a career percentage of 64.3%, previously set by D’Eriq King in 2020 and 2021.
With an impressive completion rate of 67.2% this season and sufficient passing attempts to qualify for the Hurricanes’ career list, Ward has established himself as a exceptional player. “His play was spectacular,” Cristobal praised.
