TAMPA, Fla. – When Miami acquired Cam Ward through the transfer portal in January, the coaching staff believed it was a turning point.

Ward proves them right week after week.

In a 50-15 win over South Florida on Saturday night, Ward threw for 404 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, taking advantage of the Bulls’ man coverage against Miami receivers who have proven to be reliable playmakers. Isaiah Horton rushed for 108 yards, Xavier Restrepo for 99 yards and Sam Brown for 75 yards, and each caught a touchdown pass.

Ward is the first Miami player in the last 25 years to throw for at least 300 yards in each of his first four games of the season. Miami has scored 209 points this season, the most in four games in program history.

Miami has a 4-0 record for the second straight season, but with Ward at the helm, this 4-0 feels different and allows Hurricanes fans to dream big.

“I know Cam will be mad at himself because he missed a few shots by a whisker, but that’s just the way he is,” said coach Mario Cristobal afterward. “He’s always trying to get better. He’s dynamic, he keeps proving that he’s dynamic and has a decisive influence on the game for us.”

Given the way USF defended Miami, it was obvious that Ward was going to throw the ball. Even when the pocket collapsed, he showed his ability to break through and still get to his receivers, play after play. And while he missed a few throws, he made up for them with big plays – including a 76-yard touchdown pass to a completely free Brown on the sideline late in the second quarter that gave the Hurricanes the lead for good.

Miami defeated USF 36-0 at the end of the game.

“Nobody is happy,” said Cristobal. “We are happy with the progress. We are excited and motivated, but we just want to get back to work.”

Miami set a school record by scoring 209 points in the first four games of the season, surpassing the 2000 Hurricanes, who scored 201 points in four games. That team didn’t make it to the national championship game, but it laid the groundwork for 2001, the last time Miami won a title.

And if that wasn’t enough, Miami has scored 50 points in three straight games for the first time in program history. When asked what worked so well for the offense through the first four games, Ward praised his offensive line.

“The trenches are the reason we’re 4-0 on both sides of the ball,” Ward said. “As long as we’re playing well up front, we just have to do our job on the back and on the perimeter and then we’ll be able to win some more games.”

Horton has emerged as a go-to player on the perimeter after his breakout spring. With the return of Restrepo and Jacolby George and the addition of Brown, Horton has found a role and is second on the team with 170 yards receiving.

“It’s great to play with Cam Ward,” Horton said. “He’s unbelievable. I knew that from the moment he came to campus. He made an immediate impact.”

Ward didn’t want to talk about his plays in his postgame press conference, instead focusing on the plays he missed. Still, it’s hard to ignore what he accomplished in four games now that Heisman talks are starting.

Ward is the first ACC player in the last 25 years to throw for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in each of his first four games at the start of a season.

“I think we can be really good, especially with the plays we’ve made,” Ward said of the team’s potential. “The only thing that can stop us is ourselves. So we’ve got to keep looking forward and approach every opponent like they’re the No. 1 team in the country.”