The passing of the torch from Cam Ward to Emory Williams put Miami in a precarious position entering the 2025 off-season. Ward completed 12 passes in 19 attempts for 190 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions leading Miami to a 31-28 halftime lead over Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday.
Williams completed five passes in 14 attempts for 26 yards with no TDs and one interception in the second half. Miami ran nine times for 63 yards on the one TD drive led by Williams. Ray Ray Joseph had an eight-yard reception on Williams' only pass attempt and completion on the drive.
That TD drive came with 8:09 left in the third quarter and was on Miami's first possession of the second half. Miami did not score another TD versus Iowa State. Williams led Miami on a 14-play, 72-yard drive in 7:40 to extend the lead to 41-35 on the second possession of the third quarter with an Andre Borregales field goal.
Williams was incomplete on all three pass attempts on the field goal drive. Miami ran 10 times for 72 yards on the field goal drive. That included a 28-yard run by freshman tight end Eilija Lofton on a fake punt. Miami went three and out on its next drive, its penultimate possession versus Iowa State.
Williams completed four out of nine pass attempts for 18 yards during the final two drives of the game. Many analysts believe Williams' insertion at quarterback in the second half was an audition for the 2025 season. Williams' performance does not deserve a callback.
Mario Cristobal and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson face an important decision. They need to evaluate Williams and determine if he is the right quarterback for 2025 and beyond, or if they should consider recruiting a transfer quarterback.
The decision by Cristobal and Dawson will be based on far more than the second-half performance versus Iowa State. Quarterbacks in the transfer portal are currently extremely limited. With the College Football Playoff quarterfinals being played on Tuesday night and Wednesday that could change quickly.
My two cents: While winning generally takes precedence, it didn't yesterday IMO. Seeing what you have in Emory Williams against a top 20 Power 4 team was more important than winning a non-playoff bowl. Now there's convincing evidence they need to attack the portal for a QB.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) December 29, 2024
Players whose teams are eliminated from the CFP and playing bowl games this week have five days after their games to enter the transfer portal. Quinn Ewers of Texas and Sam Levitt at Arizona State are among the speculated QBs who could enter the transfer portal in the next week.
Ewers or Levitt would be significant upgrades for Miami at quarterback compared to Williams for the 2025 season. Miami could also bring in a quarterback to compete with Williams, redshirt freshman Judd Anderson and 2025 signee Luke Nickel. Miami also has the option of waiting until the spring transfer portal window.