In a game full of milestones and pivotal moments, quarterback Cam Ward once again led the No. 11 Miami Hurricanes to a commanding victory, defeating Wake Forest 42-14 on Saturday. Ward’s stellar performance—280 passing yards, two touchdown throws to Jacolby George, and a rushing score—propelled the Hurricanes to a 10-1 overall record (6-1 ACC, No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings). With the win, Miami sits on the brink of securing a berth in the ACC Championship Game.
Cam Ward continued his sensational season, breaking two Miami single-season records held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar. With 3,774 passing yards and 268 completions, Ward surpassed Kosar’s marks of 3,642 yards and 262 completions from 1984. Ward’s precision passing—27 completions on 38 attempts—set the tone for Miami’s offense, which exploded in the fourth quarter with 22 unanswered points.
Miami’s offense sputtered after scoring on its opening drive, as both teams’ defenses tightened until the fourth quarter. Ward threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to George to cap an 84-yard opening drive, only for Wake Forest to respond with a 75-yard drive of their own, highlighted by Hank Bachmeier’s 36-yard touchdown pass to Micah Mays Jr.
The Hurricanes’ defense seized control in the second quarter when Mishael Powell returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown. Yet, Demond Claiborne kept Wake Forest within striking distance with a spectacular 100-yard kickoff return for a score, making it 17-14 at halftime.
Miami broke the game open late. Ward’s 1-yard rushing touchdown and a Jordan Lyle 18-yard scoring run—set up by a Wake Forest fumble—put the game out of reach. George added his second touchdown with under two minutes remaining. Lyle finished with 115 rushing yards, providing a balanced attack for Miami.
Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5 ACC) started strong but faded quickly. After gaining 75 yards on their opening drive, the Demon Deacons managed only 118 yards on their next 50 plays, averaging a mere 2.4 yards per play. Bachmeier completed 8 of 14 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Claiborne added 62 rushing yards to his special teams heroics.
The Demon Deacons faced criticism during the game when safety Evan Slocum went down with what appeared to be a cramp during a critical Miami drive. Ward called out the tactic on the field, and the Hurricanes ultimately settled for a field goal.
With the victory, Miami achieved its first 10-win season since 2017, marking the 16th such season in program history. Head coach Mario Cristobal joined an elite group of Miami coaches to accomplish this feat, having previously achieved the milestone twice at Oregon. Miami can clinch a spot in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next Saturday. No. 13 SMU, who routed Virginia 33-7, has already secured the other berth.
The Hurricanes are expected to maintain their place in the AP Top 25 and remain the ACC’s favorite in the College Football Playoff rankings. Their dominant fourth quarter and Ward’s record-breaking season only strengthen their case.
The Demon Deacons return home to face Duke in their season finale. The Hurricanes travel to Syracuse, aiming to punch their ticket to the ACC Championship Game. With a potential ACC title and a playoff berth within reach, Miami’s resurgence under Cristobal is a testament to the program’s bright future.
