SI

All the Laughably Fun Moments Notre Dame Missed by Declining Pop-Tarts Bowl Bid

The Pop-Tarts Bowl brought all the fun for a third straight year.

Blake Silverman

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King shook hands with the Pop-Tarts mascots ahead of kickoff
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King shook hands with the Pop-Tarts mascots ahead of kickoff / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
In this story:

Saturday marked a holiday across college football. Nope, not the College Football Playoff national championship game or even the Heisman Trophy ceremony. The Pop-Tarts Bowl is back, folks.

The fun-filled bowl game returned for its third rendition, with all the ridiculousness that comes with it. BYU and Georgia Tech were the lucky schools to take part in this year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Cougars scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 25–21 come-from-behind win.

Notre Dame, ranked No. 11 in the final CFP rankings, was the first team out of the 12-team field and decided to sit out of bowl season following the CFP snub. Specifically, the Fighting Irish opted out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl and all the fun that comes with it.

In an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua took aim at the CFP rankings process following the snub, but he clarified that he actually loves Pop-Tarts and the brown sugar flavor in particular. Even if Pop-Tarts weren’t the problem, the Irish missed out on an undoubtedly fun bowl experience. I mean, could you imagine Pop-Tarts sprinkles dusting Notre Dame’s iconic gold helmets?

Here are all the wildly fun and ridiculous moments that Notre Dame missed out on by not participating in the Pop-Tarts Bowl:

The Pop-Tarts mascot reveal

Like these anthropomorphic pastries needed any more aura, they got a reveal worth waiting for.

A new ring of honor to remember the fallen Pop-Tarts

An emotional moment for the sacrificed strawberry and cinnamon roll Pop-Tarts from prior years, complete with a ring of honor in the stadium and Hall of Fame worthy jackets.

Pop-Tarts mascots rig the halftime dunk tank

When the Pop-Tarts attack.

Pop-Tarts themed helmets

BYU and Georgia Tech played the part, adorning their helmets with sprinkles for fitting lids to wear in the game.

Touchdown celebrations with Pop-Tarts mascots

You have to take an opportunity to celebrate with a life-sized Pop-Tart when it presents itself.

Haynes King’s pregame handshake with a Pop-Tart

The Georgia Tech quarterback respected the college football heroes before kickoff.

Sprinkle filled end zones

It wasn’t just Georgia Tech and BYU’s helmets that got the Pop-Tarts treatment Saturday.

Team entrances through Pop-Tarts foil wrappers

Georgia Tech had some drama with its foil-wrapped entrance tarp, but luckily it was figured out for a great moment as each side ran onto the field.

The concessions

We can be jealous of the folks in attendance who were able to purchase the Pop-Tarts and Cheez-It style concessions, but probably not jealous of the stomach rumblings to follow.

A trophy that doubles as a toaster

The Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy isn’t new, but it’s worth admiring each time it comes out. BYU coach Kalani Sitake and Georgia Tech coach Brent Key had a mishap with the trophy during the press tour leading up to the game, but the Pop-Tarts Bowl committee will ensure the pastries are toastable for the winner, that’s for certain.

Frosted cherry being a demon

A new Pop-Tart steals the show.

Pop-Tarts pocket square from announcer Roddy Jones

The hottest accessory on the block and a great way to play into the bit.

Protein Pop-Tart getting a pump in

A protein Pop-Tart mascot made its debut with the guns to match. He was sure to bring a barbell fitted with toasters because you absolutely can’t miss out on arm day.

Questionable grilling techniques from the mascots

The Pop-Tarts hopped on the grill in the fourth quarter, but the announcers had some thoughts.

More tomfoolery from the Pop-Tarts

Look at that effort from cookies and cream.

Kalani Sitake getting a mini Pop-Tarts shower and snacking on one celebrating the win

BYU came away with a thrilling 25-21 win and Sitake got to chow down on a mini Pop-Tart during his postgame bath.

And the moment we’ve all been waiting for ... the highly anticipated Pop-Tarts toast

Slammin’ strawberry took a dive off the toaster because apparently we haven’t seen the last of it. Cookies and cream and cherry got toasted as this year’s edible mascots.

Until next year, Pop-Tarts Bowl.

More College Football on Sports Illustrated

FREE NEWSLETTER. SI BTN Newsletter. Start off your day with SI:CYMI. dark

feed

Published |Modified
Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.

Home/College Football