ORLANDO, Fla. — In a city known for thrill rides, the Miami Hurricanes and Iowa State Cyclones took their fans on one last roller coaster of a football game for the 2024 season.

But it was the Cyclones who punched in the final points to cap a wild Pop-Tarts Bowl.

No. 19 Iowa State defeated No. 15 Miami 42-41 Saturday night at Camping World Stadium. The Cyclones improved to 11-3, while the Canes finished the 2024 season with a 10-3 mark. The two teams combined for 939 yards, 46 first downs and 12 touchdowns, the last a one-yard plunge by ISU quarterback Rocco Becht with 56 seconds left that proved to be the winning score.

Quarterback Cam Ward played the first half, leading the Canes on four touchdown drives while throwing for 190 yards and three scores. In the process Ward became the NCAA’s Division I leader in career passing touchdowns with 158. Former Houston quarterback Case Keenum held the previous mark with 155 touchdown passes from 2007-11.

Ward, Miami’s first Heisman Trophy finalist in 22 years, finished his lone season in the 305 with 305 completions for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns. Emory Williams relieved Ward in the second half, completing 5 of 14 passes for 26 yards.

Andy Borregales also made some history, notching 11 points to become Miami’s career points leader with 405. And Damien Martinez turned in the Canes’ best postseason rushing performance in decades, gashing ISU’s defense for a career-high 179 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run. Backfield mate Mark Fletcher, Jr. added 62 yards and one score. The Canes racked up 308 yards on the ground.

Tight end Elijah Arroyo, wide receiver Jacolby George and wide receiver Jojo Trader each had touchdown receptions, three of nine receivers who hauled in passes for Miami. Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa paced the Canes with eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Becht completed 22 of 36 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Carson Hansen had 95 total yards and three scores for ISU, while wide receiver Jaylin Noel caught eight passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. The Cyclones had three takeaways and didn’t commit a turnover.

The Canes fumbled the shotgun snap on the game’s opening possession and linebacker Cael Brezina recovered at the Miami 22. Seven plays later, Becht fired a nine-yard scoring strike to tight end Gabe Burkle to give the Cyclones a quick 7-0 lead.

Miami’s second offensive snap produced a better result as Martinez burst through a hole in the right side of the line and raced 75 yards for a touchdown. The game was tied at 7-7 less than four minutes in and the offenses were just getting started.

The Cyclones responded as Hansen capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown run to restore ISU’s seven-point lead. But the Canes countered with a 75-yard march of their own, punctuated by a four-yard scoring toss from Ward to George.

On the next drive, Becht fired a 49-yard strike down the left sideline to Noel on 3^rd and 6 from midfield. Hansen burrowed in on the next snap for his second score of the game and the Cyclones were back up 21-14.

Ward countered by conjuring up some more third-down magic. First on 3^rd and 7 he shed a blitz attempt and fired a 24-yard completion to Arroyo to the ISU 37. Three plays later on 3^rd and 13 he rolled right and found Trader for a 40-yard touchdown. The score was 21-all.

Becht went 5 for 6 for 77 yards on the next drive, capping it with a 13-yard scoring toss to a wide-open Hansen in the flat. ISU led 28-21. The Canes got the ball back and Martinez jumped back into action, rushing for 39 yards on the first two snaps to the Cyclones 33. Ward then dropped a 33-yard dime to Arroyo to tie the score back up at 28.

Miami’s defense forced the first punt of the game, and the Canes took over at the ISU 48. Ward picked up a first down with his legs and then Mark Fletcher for an apparent first down, but Fletcher fumbled and safety Ta’Shawn James recovered at the Cyclones 24. Becht drove his offense to the Canes 34-yard line, but Miami held on 4^th and 4. Ward connected with wide receiver Shamar Kirk and Trader on consecutive completions to move the ball inside the red zone. But ISU’s defense forced a 30-yard field goal attempt, which Borregales drilled to give the Canes their first lead at 31-28.

Miami averaged 9.4 yards per play in the first half and Martinez had 132 rushing yards, the most by an ACC player in the first half of a bowl game since Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in the 2015 Music City Bowl.

The Cyclones got the ball to open the second half, and the Canes forced a quick three-and-out. Williams came in under center and he kept handing to Martinez and Fletcher, who combined for 63 yards on a 71-yard drive with Fletcher bulldozing his way into the end zone from a yard out. Miami led 38-28.

ISU moved the ball to UM’s two-yard line in just seven plays, where the Cyclones faced 4^th and 1. Becht moved the chains on a one-yard run, and three plays later threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Noel. ISU was back within three points.

The Cyclones then forced Miami’s first punt of the game – or so it seemed. The ball was snapped to tight end Elija Lofton, who scampered 28 yards to the ISU 43. The Canes eventually reached the three-yard line but were stuffed on third and goal and Borregales’ 21-yard field goal pushed UM’s lead to six points.

The Canes forced another three-and-out after linebacker Wesley Bissainthe registered Miami’s first sack of the evening. UM took over at its own 37 but couldn’t move the chains. This time Dylan Joyce did punt and the Cyclones got the back at their 16-yard line with 6:34 remaining.

Becht scrambled 11 yards for a first down and five plays later found Noel for 29 yards down the left sideline to move the ball into the red zone. He hit Noel again for 13 yards to set up first and goal at the four-yard line at the two-minute timeout. Then it was 4^th and goal from the one-yard line. Becht burrowed in on the quarterback sneak – the 15^th play of the drive — and the extra point gave the Cyclones a 42-41 lead with 56 ticks on the clock.

The Canes managed one first down and found themselves at their 40-yard line with three seconds remaining. Williams’ Hail Mary throw was picked off by safety Charlie Whelpley to end the game.