One of the most perplexing decisions during bowl season came during the Pop-Tarts Bowl, with Miami quarterback Cam Ward sitting out the second half after leading the ‘Canes to a narrow lead.

Ward was unstoppable in the first half, giving his team a 31-28 lead before he hit the bench.

So naturally, questions abounded about why he didn’t appear in the second half, given how competitive the game was. Miami would ultimately lose 42-41, with backup Emory Williams unable to lead a game-winning drive in the final minute of play.

Coach Mario Cristobal declined to explain Cam Ward’s absence after the game, saying “those conversations are private,” according to The Athletic’s Manny Navarro.

“I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we make them in private and we keep them in private,” Cristobal said. “So I’ll prefer not to answer questions as it relates to that. I know he played his best while he was in there.”

The talented starting quarterback had gone 12-of-19 passing in the game for 190 yards with three touchdowns prior to his exit. He’d also rushed twice for eight yards.

But perhaps most importantly, his leadership and cool, collected demeanor proved impossible to replace. Miami simply didn’t look like the same team without him, scoring only 10 points the rest of the way.

Analysts like Todd McShay immediately questioned the decision, and Twitter was a cacophony of criticism for both Ward and Miami.

“I appreciate that Cam Ward, in this day and age in CFB, played at all,” McShay wrote on Twitter. “But I just can’t imagine starting any game with teammates, especially as a quarterback, and electing to pull myself out while my teammates are still trying to finish the job in a back-and-forth battle.

“I’m a realist. I know the climate. I’m not even knocking Cam here. It’s just different.”

Cam Ward was in the middle of one of the most productive seasons in Miami history. On top of becoming the all-time Division I record holder with his 156th career touchdown pass, he helped lead Miami to a 10-2 regular season.

Meanwhile, Ward entered the Pop-Tarts Bowl 293-of-435 passing for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns, against seven interceptions. He also ran for 196 yards and four scores.

But the season will instead end with a dull thud, as the momentum from the first half of the campaign proved fleeting and the Hurricanes lost three of their final four games. And it’s impossible not to wonder what could have been had Ward played in the second half.