Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Miami rallies against Cal, avoids disaster in week of upsets

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Oct 6, 2024 9:19 AM ET

The Week 6 college football slate only featured one ranked matchup, initially appearing not as appetizing as next week's projected lineup of four Top 25 bouts.

But the action delivered massive upset after massive upset with five of the Associated Press top 10 falling Saturday and seven top-25 programs felled across the entire weekend. Sunday's new poll will have some serious shakeups to say the least.

The craziness was capped off by No. 8 Miami taking the 2,584-mile flight back home from Berkeley after making a 20-point fourth-quarter comeback over ACC foe California, 39-38.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward, a popular pick to be a Heisman Trophy finalist, looked like a shell of himself for most of the game, taking heavy pressure from the Cal pass rush.

He also threw an uncharacteristic interception in the third quarter that was returned for a touchdown. It was the play that looked like it had iced the upset victory for the Golden Bears.

JUST ANOTHER NOHL WILLIAMS PICK SIX ‼️

@espn x @CalFootball pic.twitter.com/u5CkyNex8j
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) October 6, 2024

Ward led the insane comeback, throwing three fourth quarter touchdown passes in the span of 10 minutes — part of a 29-3 run starting late in the third quarter.

The game-winning score came with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation after Ward drove the Hurricanes down the field in just a few electrifying plays.

TOUCHDOWN CANES

@espn x @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/ep1WFcR1tF
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) October 6, 2024

The win marks two straight weeks Miami has pulled a victory out of the jaws of defeat. In Week 5, Virginia Tech also nearly pulled the upset on a Hail Mary toss that was eventually ruled incomplete after a controversial video review.

Miami's quest for its first ACC title since it joined the conference and a shot at the College Football Playoff can continue, but it cannot afford any more scares like Saturday. It will need to be near perfect over the second half of the season to clinch a berth with ease.

The Hurricanes last won a conference title in 2003 as a member of the Big East and hasn't lifted a national championship trophy since 2001.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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