Cam Ward missed out on the College Football Playoff, the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and the Heisman Trophy. He's not missing one more chance to play for Miami. Ward and the 15th-ranked Hurricanes (10-2) take on 18th-ranked Iowa State (10-3) in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday,

Iowa State and Miami weren’t far off from playing in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The Cyclones made it as far as the Big 12 championship, which they lost to Arizona State, while the Hurricanes missed out on a trip to the ACC game after losing to Syracuse in the regular-season finale.

Despite not making the playoffs, both Miami and Iowa State believe participating in the Pop-Tarts Bowl is an important way to close the season.