Cam Ward made his final impression to NFL franchises in a Miami uniform in the increasingly wild Pop-Tarts Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones. Against the Big 12's top passing defense, Ward had his best stuff going early on,

Cam Ward's decision to only play the first half of Miami's 42-41 loss against Iowa State in this year's Pop-Tarts Bowl proved to be extremely

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell praised Miami quarterback Cam Ward despite the controversy surrounding Ward's decision to sit out the second half of their bowl game matchup. Ward played the first half, lighting up Campbell's defense for 190 yards and three touchdowns. But Ward opted out of the second half, remaining on the Hurricanes sideline.

The Miami Hurricanes fell in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to Iowa State over the weekend, 42-41. After the game, many were critical of quarterback Cam Ward. Ward

Ward started the Pop-Tarts Bowl and proceeded to shred Iowa State’s top-five pass defense, throwing for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. He did so even without three of his starting receivers, including Miami’s all-time receptions leader Xavier Restrepo, who had opted out.

Why did Cam Ward sit out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday? Here's what to know of the star quarterback's absence in Miami's game:

As great as Cam Ward's one and only season was at the University of Miami, it ended on a sour note. After narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff, the Hurricanes settled for an appearance in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State.