Miami seniors mount another record-breaking day, as legend Bernie Kosar’s mark falls

University of Miami football got another glimpse Saturday of how crucial its seniors have been to the program this season — and how much they’ll be missed.

Their announced crowd of 64,210 witnessed it on senior day at Hard Rock Stadium for the final time of the 2024 regular season, as the Hurricanes defeated Wake Forest 42-14 in the penultimate regular-season game before UM (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) travels to play Syracuse next Saturday.

For fans shaking their heads that Miami — a 23-point favorite and No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings — was up by only six points in the fourth quarter in an initially lackluster performance, it was an ultimately stout defense and seniors such as Cam Ward, Jacolby George, Meesh Powell and Andy Borregales who helped soften their anxiety.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal said that before the game, when seniors were being honored with their families, he “busted their chops’’ and told them “I’m not going to cry, so you better not cry.

“Even though sometimes it may not look pretty,” Cristobal added, “they’re going to do whatever it takes to get it done and to find a way to get that 1-0.’’

Quarterback Ward, who transferred to UM from Washington State for his fifth and final collegiate season, finished 27 of 38 (71 percent) for 280 yards and two touchdowns, to surpass Hurricanes great Bernie Kosar and become Miami’s single-season record holder for passing yards, with 3,774. Kosar’s record was 3,642 passing yards in 1984.

Ward, who has at least another game to add to his record, also threw an interception Saturday and scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the final quarter.

“It really doesn’t mean anything,’’ said Ward, who threw his first nine passes Saturday for completions. “I set the record at my first school [Incarnate Word]. I have the confidence to know I can do anything with the receiving group I have and the O-line I have. Any quarterback in this position is able to break some records.’’

George, a fourth-year senior out of Plantation High, had seven catches for 91 yards and the game’s opening and final touchdowns (13 and 15 yards). He now has 45 catches for 607 yards and seven touchdowns. Saturday was his first multi-touchdown game of the season.

“It was my last home game, so to do that was special,’’ George said.

Powell, a sixth-year redshirt senior safety who transferred to UM from Washington for this season, had his career-high fifth interception Saturday, and ran it back 76 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown put UM up 17-7 midway through the second quarter.

Fourth-year senior kicker Borregales, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, added field goals of 40 and 25 yards — plus four extra points — to an already illustrious season. He has hit 15 of 16 field goals and all 52 extra points.

And Miami slot receiver Xavier Restrepo, a fifth-year senior and semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation’s top receiver, came into the game 66 receiving yards shy of being the first Hurricane with multiple 1000-yard seasons. Restrepo finished with five catches for 45 yards. He had an uncharacteristic lost fumble in the third quarter, but the Demon Deacons didn’t score off it.

Restrepo needs just 21 receiving yards to reach 1,000 yards. He already leads the team with 10 touchdowns.

Offensive lineman Jalen Rivers, not classified as a senior but in his fifth year at Miami, is expected to enter the NFL Draft after the season. He was honored with his family before the game, and brought to the post-game news conference.

“Everybody said the time would go fast,’’ Rivers said, “and they were right.

“It has been five years,’’ he said, snapping his fingers. “Like this.’’