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.

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

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

Cam Ward only played in half of Miami's 42-41 loss to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday, and that left fans annoyed. Ward went 12/19 for 190

Miami’s quarterback has drawn plenty of heat for sitting out the second half of Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl — a game his Hurricanes lost by just one point — but he’s got at least one defender in former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst Robert Griffin III.

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:

Cam Ward was lighting up Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl but caught a lot of flack for sitting out the 2nd half in Miami's one-point loss.

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.