TAMPA — Cam Ward’s second interception in a Miami uniform wasn’t his fault, but the Hurricanes quarterback did not flinch.

On Miami’s second possession of Saturday night’s game at USF, Jacolby George reeled in a pass from Ward while streaking over the middle, then lost the ball as he was attempting to tuck it away. It bounced right into the waiting hands of a USF defensive back. Three plays later, the Bulls were in the end zone, and Miami trailed for the first time all season.

“(I told him) don’t worry about it,” Ward said. “I told him he’s got to make up for it before the end of the season, he’s got to get me one back. JG is one of the best receivers in the country. I’m gonna come back to him. Next week, he’s probably going to be in the same position, run the same play and he’s gonna catch it and he’s gonna score. I’m not too worried about that. The only thing that matters in the end is the win. And that’s all we can be thankful for.”

The pick wasn’t a costly one. Miami’s deficit lasted five minutes and five seconds of game clock before Ward erased it with his 12th touchdown pass of the season. After USF grabbed the lead again on a field goal, Ward took it back 40 seconds later with a 76-yard touchdown strike to Sam Brown.

The Hurricanes never trailed again, putting up 574 yards of total offense in a 50-15 runaway win over the Bulls.

Criticize the quality of Miami’s first three nonconference opponents (reeling Florida, FCS Florida A&M, MAC program Ball State) all you like, but opponent No. 4 was the same USF team that trailed fourth-ranked Alabama 21-16 in Tuscaloosa with six minutes left to play two weeks ago.

After rolling up 206 rushing yards at Alabama, the Bulls were held to 62 yards on 32 attempts at home.

The Turnover Chain made a quick cameo at the end of the night… pic.twitter.com/Rkgijb2EyG

— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 22, 2024

Mario Cristobal’s team isn’t perfect. The Hurricanes had far too many penalties in the first half (finishing with 11 for 113 yards), and USF’s up-tempo attack gave them trouble in the first two quarters. Ward missed some open receivers, too. And if it wasn’t for freshman Jordan Lyle’s school-record 91-yard touchdown run late in the game, the Hurricanes’ rushing totals (170 yards on 28 attempts) would have been an eyesore on the stat sheet.

But after four games, you can definitely say this: With Ward at quarterback, Miami is explosive enough to beat anybody.

“If you want to make it a boat race, we’re OK with that,” Cristobal said.

Miami’s offense entered Week 4 leading all FBS schools with 32 plays of 20 yards or more. It produced five more against the Bulls en route to hitting the 50-point mark for the third game in a row. Its worst offensive performance to this point? Forty-one points in a season-opening blowout of rival Florida in Gainesville.

And it may prove very helpful that the Hurricanes can light up the scoreboard, as the other scores around the ACC this weekend show:

None of those five ACC teams are on Miami’s schedule, but two of the league’s four remaining unbeatens — Louisville and Duke — are. Getting to the 12-team College Football Playoff will likely require finishing the regular season 12-0 or 11-1 and winning the ACC title game.

Right now, the only game on its schedule in which Miami probably won’t be favored is its Oct. 19 trip to Louisville. But the Cardinals need to get through a stretch of Notre Dame, SMU and Virginia over the next few weeks without taking too much damage first.

By then, Ward and Miami could have a lot more people believing The U is back. It felt that way Saturday to the large chorus of Canes fans who made the trip to Tampa and sang a familiar tune as Bulls fans filed out of Raymond James Stadium.

Miami Hurricanes fans are singing again… pic.twitter.com/OUEonwJurV

— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 22, 2024

The Hurricanes open ACC play next Friday at home against Virginia Tech. As the quality of competition rises, they like their chances.

“I’d say the best part about everything is that our guys like to work,” Cristobal said. “The talk is about getting back, waking up and preparing for conference play. Nobody’s content. We’re excited about the progress. We’re enthused and driven, but we kind of just want to get back to work.”

(Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)