Hurricanes QB consistency in the last Eight games has dramatically dropped down due to…

In 2024, the Miami football team is looking for greater consistency from quarterback Cam Ward compared to his performance with Washington State in 2023. While Ward showed exceptional skill in the first four weeks of the 2023 season, his performance dipped in the following eight games.

During the first four games, Ward completed an impressive 75.0% of his passes for 1,393 yards, with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions. However, his completion percentage dropped to 63.3% over the last eight games, resulting in 2,342 yards, 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Washington State’s strong start in 2023, with a 4-0 record including wins against Colorado State, Wisconsin, North Colorado, and Oregon State, saw the team averaging 45.75 points per game. However, their offensive output declined in the final eight games, averaging 24.626 points per game.

Washington State’s downturn was stark, culminating in seven losses in the final eight games of the season. The team’s fall was dramatic, beginning with a 25-17 loss to UCLA, which ended their initial four-game winning streak. This setback was followed by a surprising 44-6 defeat by Arizona at home in Pullman.

During the last eight games of the 2023 season, Ward’s performance varied, with one game surpassing 400 yards, three reaching 300 yards, two totaling 200 yards, and two falling below 200 yards. Unlike at Washington State, Ward will benefit from a stronger running game at Miami, as the Cougars ranked last nationally in rushing yards per game in 2023, averaging only 84.83 yards.

Washington State managed to exceed 100 rushing yards in just four games throughout the 2023 season, with notable performances against Northern Colorado (229 yards) and Oregon State (106 yards). However, their ground game faltered in the final eight games, surpassing 100 yards only twice, including a 127-yard effort in a week 11 victory over Colorado. Conversely, they fell short of 60 rushing yards on four occasions during this stretch.

Damien Martinez, a transfer from Oregon State, had six 100-yard rushing games in 2023, providing a spark for Washington State’s offense. With Miami’s improved talent pool and offensive line, both Ward and Martinez are poised to elevate their performances from the previous season.