Kstate

Kansas State Misses Viral Pop-Tarts Bowl Buzz By One Season

Shandel Richardson|
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell and quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrate after beating Miami Hurricanes in the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell and quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrate after beating Miami Hurricanes in the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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Kansas State Wildcats

Last season Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson barely drew a blip of attention after winning MVP of the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando.

A year later, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is an Internet sensation and likely the subject of plenty viral memes. That's because the bowl named after a breakfast pastry is now arguably one of the most popular of the postseason.

The Cyclones held on for a 42-41 victory against the Miami Hurricanes at Camping World Stadium to become the second straight Big 12 team to win the game. Last year Kansas State defeated North Carolina State without the fanfare.

The bowl had 11 different names since it started in 1990 but was named Pop-Tarts before the 2023 season. The Wildcats and Wolfpack were the first teams to play under the new name. It appears the sponsor created a new marketing strategy to reach a bigger audience.

This year, Pop-Tarts mascots were introduced, different flavors and all. They included strawberry, brown sugar, etc. Fans in attendance were treated to a Pop-Tarts bar once they arrived at the stadium. The culmination was Becht being awarded a larger than life Pop-Tart after getting his MVP trophy. The mascot was lowered into a huge toaster only to come out as an edible treat.

The Wildcats are content with their performance in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix but would have received much more love in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Kansas State Wildcats On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here