Stern test for Cal in ACC home opener: No. 8 Miami

Cam Ward is enjoying arguably the best start of any college football player in the country as the calendar turns to October.

Cam Ward is enjoying arguably the best start of any college football player in the country as the calendar turns to October.

The Miami quarterback will attempt to build on the superlatives when the No. 8 Hurricanes face Cal on Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest at Berkeley, Calif.

Ward is one of the Heisman Trophy favorites after passing for 1,782 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions over his first five games for Miami (5-0, 1-0 ACC).

Ward passed for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in each of the five games. His high yardage output was 404, and he threw five TD passes in one game and four in another.

The stellar performances have Miami ranked second in scoring offense (49.4 points per game) and total offense (585.6 yards per game).

"We have unlimited respect for and confidence in Cam," said wideout Xavier Restrepo, who has 25 catches for 422 yards and five touchdowns. "He's the best quarterback in the nation, and I say that with everything I've got. That dude's a baller. Never gives up."

Ward transferred to Miami after two seasons at Washington State, so he has a comfort level against the Cal defense.

Ward passed for 343 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions when the Cougars posted a 28-9 win over the Golden Bears in 2022.

Last season at Berkeley, Ward threw for 354 yards, three touchdowns and one interception as Washington State lost 42-39.

The Hurricanes are coming off a controversial 38-34 home victory over Virginia Tech on Friday.

Ward committed three turnovers -- two interceptions and one lost fumble -- while passing for 343 yards and four touchdowns against the Hokies.

Virginia Tech scored a touchdown on a Hail Mary pass at the end of the game, but an officials' review overturned it, allowing Miami to escape with the win.

"You ain't got no control of the game," Ward said. "You leave it up to the white hats; that's a position you don't want to be in. At the end of the day, I'm just glad we got the win. I thought it's gonna be overturned, just because everybody was out of bounds."

The Golden Bears (3-1, 0-1) had a bye last week, so they have had plenty of time to prepare for Ward.

Cal leads the nation with 10 interceptions, and cornerback Nohl Williams is tied for the individual lead with four picks.

The contest will be the first ACC home game for the Golden Bears. They fell in their first overall ACC game 14-9 at Florida State on Sept. 21.

Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a Miami native, is looking forward to the matchup with the Hurricanes. The sophomore turned 21 on Tuesday.

"I have personal implications for the game, really, really wanting to succeed and do well against Miami," Mendoza said. "Preparing for this game and having a great game on Saturday, that'd be the best birthday present."

Mendoza passed for a career-high 303 yards against the Seminoles, but Cal went 0-for-5 on producing a touchdown on drives that reached the red zone. Mendoza threw one interception and was sacked seven times.

"They're a physical team, similar to the last two teams we played," Mendoza said of the Hurricanes. "If getting sacked is the right play or throwing it away to get to the next play, I'm going to make it for the team. My body is feeling great."

Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said standout defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. (lower body) would return against Cal. Bain missed the past four games.

The teams have split four previous meetings. In the most recent matchup, Cal beat Miami 24-17 in the 2008 Emerald Bowl.

--Field Level Media