Tag: Pop-Tarts Bowl

Cam Ward sitting out the Pop-Tarts Bowl’s second half shouldn’t affect his 2025 NFL Draft standing

Okay, let’s not blow this out of proportion.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward sat out the second half of Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, creating a flurry of controversy over the signal caller not finishing the game.

Ward captured the NCAA Division 1 record for touchdowns thrown in a career during the contest but didn’t return to action after halftime.

Iowa State came back to win the bowl game, 42-41, which makes Ward sitting out all the easier to scrutinize. The move shouldn’t be a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but the discourse machine will keep rolling.

There are enough fans out there who feel that any player opting out of a bowl game is a bad look, much less one who opts in and then sits for the second half after setting a personal milestone.

If you’re wondering if Ward’s decision to sit might affect his 2025 NFL Draft standing, don’t. It’s most likely a non-factor as to whether or not NFL teams will consider taking Ward in next spring’s draft process.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III astutely called out the hypocrisy with fans getting upset with Ward not playing in the second half.

“He didn’t have to play AT ALL,” Griffin posted on Twitter (X). “Instead he gave us a half of jaw dropping plays. Stop villainizing these student athletes.”

If you think an NFL team with a need at quarterback will seriously consider dropping Ward off their draft board because he didn’t play two quarters of a bowl game, think again. Him not playing the second half of a bowl game says nothing about his future as an NFL quarterback.

To be honest, NFL teams interested in Ward are probably relieved he didn’t risk a second-half injury in what basically amounts to a meaningless game since Miami isn’t playing in the College Football Playoff.

This is a non-story, and it’s most likely not going to affect Ward’s draft status in the slightest. The Miami quarterback should still likely go very high in the 2025 NFL Draft, perhaps even with the first-overall pick.

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Mario Cristobal gave a frustrating non-answer as to why Cam Ward sat out the Pop-Tarts Bowl’s second half

Well, this didn’t help.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal tried to explain why quarterback Cam Ward didn’t play in the second half of Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl by not explaining it at all.

Ward didn’t finish out the bowl game loss to Iowa State, which presumably had to do with the unnecessary injury risk ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

To be blunt, Ward not playing in the second half shouldn’t be a big deal.

However, Cristobal didn’t exactly help out Ward by giving a frustrating non-answer when asked by the South Florida Sun Sentinal’s Adam Lichtenstein about why the decision was made to keep the quarterback out of the second half.

If you’re left scratching your head, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

“I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we make them in  private, and we keep them in private,” Cristobal said. “So I’ll prefer not to answer questions as it relates to that. I know he played his best while he was in there.”

Cristobal’s job is to protect Ward, and this is probably how the best felt to address the situation. However, it shouldn’t be a big deal to just share why Ward didn’t finish the game… or better yet, let Ward share it himself.

This is a completely unnecessary controversy brewing for Ward and Miami ahead of the former potentially going first in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s understandable why Cristobal was vague, but his answer didn’t help.

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The non-edible Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot shared another hilarious message before its toaster demise

It’s perfect.

Some traditions in college football catch on quickly and are instantly beloved, and one of the best examples of that is the still relatively new Pop-Tarts Bowl, which is only in its second season but captured the hearts of fans everywhere.

In the first Pop-Tarts Bowl last season, the non-edible Strawberry mascot had a brutally funny message before getting toasted: “Dreams really do come true.”

Keeping in line with the theme of living the dream by dying in a toaster and getting devoured by the winning team, the sacrificial non-edible Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot, the Frosted Cinnamon Roll, held up a final message for fans: “Follow your dreams.”

It’s just perfect. RIP, Frosted Cinnamon Roll.

Then, of course, the non-edible mascot went into the toaster and out popped a giant edible one for Iowa State players to enjoy after their win over Miami.

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College fans paid tribute to Frosted Cinnamon Roll’s 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl sacrifice

RIP Frosted Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot.

As is now customary at the Pop-Tarts Bowl, another Pop-Tarts mascot has been sacrificed for the winners of the bowl game.

This year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl winners, the Iowa State Cyclones, chose the Frosted Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts flavor as their victory snack.

That meant the Frosted Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot earned the distinct honor of being lowered into the giant toaster and cooked for the Cyclones to enjoy.

There is quite literally no better way for this absurdly fun college football bowl game to end than watching one of the Pop-Tarts mascots sacrificed for the good of the sport.

Of course, tributes poured in for this dearly departed Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot.

Hey, if Frosted Strawberry can make it back to life, maybe Cinnamon Roll can, too? One can dream.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

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Rocco Becht’s late TD icing on Iowa State’s win in Pop-Tarts Bowl

Iowa State with thrilling win in Pop-Tarts Bowl

Rocco Becht’s one-yard run in the final minute Saturday and the ensuing PAT gave Iowa State a 42-41 victory over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

The Hurricanes led 38-28 in the third quarter before the Cyclones rallied.

Miami played its second half without quarterback Cam Ward, who opted to sit out after playing the first 30 minutes and going 12-of-19 for 190 yards with three touchdowns.

The game-winning drive covered 84 yards over 5:38.

A Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot sneaking up behind a referee was nightmare fuel

Nightmare fuel!

The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl was filled with plenty of mascot shenanigans, and not even the referees could avoid them.

During the game’s fourth quarter, the Frosted Wild Berry Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot decided to mess with one of the officials by sneaking up behind them and then running away once the official realized what was going on.

Let’s be real. This is nightmare fuel. Imagine you’re just focused on your job when a giant Pop-Tarts mascot sneaks up behind you on national television. The horror!

The Pop-Tarts Bowl mascots clearly love to have fun, and kudos to this referee for being such a good sport. We’re not sure we could’ve maintained this composure with a giant Pop-Tarts mascot sneaking up behind us.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

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The Miami mascot rudely tried to eat one of the Pop-Tarts Bowl mascots

Sebastian, no!

The trouble with being a Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot is that other college football mascots might want to eat you.

Miami’s Sebastian the Ibis tried to chow down on the Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae Pop-Tarts mascot during the second half, which was very rude for him to do!

The victor of the Pop-Tarts Bowl was meant to feast on the winning mascot this year, but Sebastian jumped the gun. This is not proper mascot etiquette at such an illustrious event as the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Somebody needs to give Sebastian a reality check… if they can find a way to communicate with a giant bird mascot.

As for the Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae Pop-Tarts mascot, you deserved better … at least until the end of the game.

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Why Cam Ward left the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl for Miami

Cam Ward left Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl. Here’s our best guess as to why.

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information. 

Miami quarterback Cam Ward didn’t take the field for the second half of Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, but Hurricane fans shouldn’t be worried.

Miami backup quarterback Emory Williams started for the team to open the third quarter and immediately led the Hurricanes on a touchdown drive.

Hurricanes team reporter Christy Chirinos shared that Ward had a big smile on his face as the team scored the touchdown, which likely indicates he’s out of the game as a precaution for his 2025 NFL Draft preparations. In For The Win’s latest mock draft, we have Ward as the No. 2 overall pick.

Ward threw his 156th touchdown pass during the game, which gave him the NCAA Division I record for touchdowns thrown in a college career.

With the record in the books, Ward and the team perhaps decided it wasn’t worth the injury risk in the second half. He could be the first player off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft next spring.

Even though Ward didn’t return to game action, it’s no big deal. His legacy at Miami was already secured.

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The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl mascots hysterically ran NFL combine drills on the field

And with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft…

The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl brought back the best bowl game mascots college football has to offer, and the mascot shenanigans were on point.

During Saturday’s Iowa State-Miami game, the three Pop-Tarts Bowl mascots participated in NFL-style combine drills for the crowd’s enjoyment at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.

ESPN showed us a glimpse at these Pop-Tarts Bowl combine drills, with the Wild Berry toaster pastry looking impressive while going through the drills.

While we’re not exactly sure if the 2025 NFL Draft will come calling for any of these Pop-Tarts, the mascots can at least take heart in the fact that they can run while, y’know, being Pop-Tarts? That’s not bad!

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

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Miami Hurricanes players get into sideline fight during Pop-Tarts Bowl

Miami Hurricanes players may have been fighting over Pop-Tarts, we hope

The Miami Hurricanes couldn’t stop Iowa State in the early going of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday. Might have been because they were too busy fighting with each other.

Simeon Barrow Jr. and Marquise Lightfoot got into it on the sidelines. Not just arguing, throwing punches, too.

That would be redshirt senior going at it with freshman.