Pop-Tarts Bowl FINAL: No. 18 Iowa State 42, No. 13 Miami Hurricanes 41
It came down to the Miami Hurricanes defense needing to make a goal-line stand. The Iowa State Cyclones were at the Miami 2-yard line, 6 feet away from taking the lead in the final minutes of the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
First and goal, 1:41 left on the clock, direct snap to running back Carson Hansen. No gain.
Second and goal, 1:11 left on the clock, pass attempt, incomplete.
Third and goal, one minute left, direct snap to Hansen, 1 yard gain.
Fourth and goal, 55 seconds left, quarterback run by Rocco Becht ... touchdown Iowa State. Lead Iowa State.
The Hurricanes could not muster a final comeback.
Final score from Orlando’s Camping World Stadium: No. 18 Iowa State 42, No. 13 Miami 41.
And so the Hurricanes (10-3) continue their wait for a bowl game win. They haven’t won a postseason game since 2016 and have now lost six consecutive bowl games.
And so the Hurricanes enter the offseason having lost three of their final four games — by a combined 10 points — after starting the season 9-0 and having aspirations for both winning the Atlantic Coast Conference and reaching the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Another Borregales field goal
Andres Borregales 21-yard field goal puts the Hurricanes up 41-35 with 9:40 left in regulation.
Borregales set the UM record for career points scored in the process.
Iowa State scores
The Cyclones get back within a field goal on a 4-yard pass from Rocco Becht to Jaylin Noel.
Miami’s lead is 38-35 with 2:20 left in the third quarter.
Canes add to lead
A Mark Fletcher 1-yard rushing touchdown caps a 10-play, 71-yard touchdown drive.
Miami is up 38-28 on Iowa State with 8:09 left in the third quarter.
Emory Williams at quarterback
Emory Williams has replaced Cam Ward at quarterback to begin the second half.
Ward’s final line: 12 for 19, 190 yards, 3 touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Defense stepping up
The Hurricanes defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half.
That’s three consecutive stops for Miami’s defense.
Miami takes its first lead
An Andres Borregales 30-yard field goal gives Miami its first lead of the game, 31-28, with 16 seconds left in the first half.
Borregales now has 401 points in his UM career, two shy of tying Michael Badgley for the school record.
Another defensive stop
The Hurricanes forced a turnover on downs to negate Iowa State’s chance to capitalize on the turnover.
That’s now three consecutive drives without points after eight consecutive touchdown drives.
Another lost fumble
Mark Fletcher fights for a first down, fumbles, Iowa State recovers.
And then Elijah Arroyo hit with a personal foul after the play.
Less than ideal situation all around for the Hurricanes, who had a chance to take their first lead of the game.
Wait ... a defensive stop?
The Hurricanes got a stop on defense.
This is not a drill.
The Hurricanes forced Iowa State to punt.
Miami takes over near midfield with a chance to take the lead.
Oh, look, another touchdown
Cam Ward to a wide-open Elijah Arroyo. 33-yard touchdown.
Oh, look, it’s a tie game again.
28-28, 9:25 left in the second quarter.
Yes. 56 points scored in 20:35 of game action.
Oh, look, another touchdown
Rocco Becht 13-yard touchdown pass to Carson Hansen to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
Hansen has scored three touchdowns already for the Cyclones.
It’s 28-21 Iowa State over Miami with 10:43 left to play.
Trader gets his first touchdown
Hello, Joshisa Trader.
The true freshman hauled in 40-yard touchdown catch from Cam Ward (who did Cam Ward things before the throw like Cam Ward always does).
Tie game ... again. 21-21.
That’s Trader’s first touchdown catch with Miami. He had three catches for 30 yards this season entering today.
Iowa State leads again
A 1-yard touchdown run by Carson Hansen, his second of the game, gives Iowa State a 21-14 lead over Miami with 2:23 left in the first quarter.
One play earlier, Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht hit a wide-open Jaylin Noel for 49 yards to get Iowa State to the 1.
Game tied again ... and Ward makes more history
Cam Ward hit Jacolby George for a 4-yard touchdown to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game again at 14-14 with 4:12 left in the first quarter.
The touchdown pass was Ward’s 156th of his career, setting the record for most by a player in a career Division I football history. Case Keenum had the record at 155.
Cyclones score again
Miami’s defense ... is still Miami’s defense.
Iowa State scores again. Carson Hansen 30-yard rushing touchdown caps a six-play, 75-yard Iowa State drive.
Cyclones up 14-7 on the Hurricanes with 8:34 left in the first quarter.
Damien Martinez ties it on one play
Hurricanes’ first play on Drive 1: Fumble
Hurricanes’ first play on Drive 2: Damien Martinez 75-yard touchdown run. 10th touchdown run of the season for Martinez.
7-7, 11:10 left in the first quarter
Iowa State opens scoring
The Cyclones took advantage of the Miami turnover, with Rocco Becht’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Burkle capping a seven-play, 22-yard drive. The drive included Iowa State converting on fourth-and-1.
It’s 7-0 Iowa State over Miami, 11:23 left in the first quarter.
Rough start for Hurricanes
The first play of the game: A botched snap. Miami fumbles. Iowa State recovers.
The Cyclones will start their first drive at the Miami 22 yard line.
Restrepo, Brown declare for NFL Draft
Three of the Hurricanes’ top receivers will not be playing on Saturday.
In addition to Isaiah Horton being in the transfer portal, Xavier Restrepo and Sam Brown both declared for the 2025 NFL Draft ahead of the game. Neither is with the team in Orlando.
Pregame Hurricanes reading
Need to catch up before kickoff? Here are the highlights of the Miami Herald’s coverage over the past few days.
▪ What’s at stake for the Miami Hurricanes in Pop-Tarts Bowl to close out 2024 season?
▪ Miami Hurricanes players to watch during Pop-Tarts Bowl with an eye on the future
▪ Why Mario Cristobal’s ‘not surprised’ Cam Ward is playing for Hurricanes in Pop-Tarts Bowl
▪ Edible mascots? A working trophy? Even (loosely) a Miami origin? Get ready for the Pop-Tarts Bowl
This story was originally published December 28, 2024 at 3:00 PM.
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