The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday lived up to the hype created by the bowl’s debut in 2023, and it all had very little to do with No. 13 Miami and No. 18 Iowa State facing off at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
The toaster trophy made an appearance in ESPN and ABC’s broadcast booth at the game, so why not toast a couple Pop-Tarts? But apparently Tom Hart and Jordan Rodgers were not prepared for the toaster trophy’s catapult feature, which shot out the Pop-Tarts when they were done.
The @PopTartsBowl has a working toaster for a trophy, and the toaster apparently has a catapult function. @tom_hart and @JRodgers11 find out the hard way in their booth open. (Five second rule does apply.)
Cole Cubelic knew how to celebrate the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl.
ESPN broadcaster Cole Cubelic looked like he was having the time of his life during Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando.
Cubelic donned a Pop-Tarts mascot costume for his reporting duties at Camping World Stadium, even knocking down a pyramid of Pop-Tarts boxes to commit to the bit as much as possible.
When it comes to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, you don’t hold back. Kudos to Cubelic for getting into the spirit of the season and bringing even more joy to this wonderful bowl game than we already had.
We thought that was the end of the Strawberry Pop-Tart mascot, but the Pop-Tart Bowl gods had other plans.
Even though a memorial statue had been displayed in the Strawberry Pop-Tart mascot’s honor outside Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl brought our beloved Strawberry Pop-Tart mascot back to us.
As the big board showed a tribute video in the Strawberry Pop-Tart mascot’s memory, a half-eaten Strawberry Pop-Tart mascot stood high at the stadium and waved to all the guests in attendance.
He’s alive! Strawberry Pop-Tart mascot lives! Sure, it looks like the Terminator with a damaged face, but who cares? Our sweet, sweet Strawberry Pop-Tart mascot has returned to us.
These 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl mascots understood the assignment.
The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl made its glorious return to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on Saturday for a postseason game between Miami and Iowa State, and the mascot introduction was perfect.
The three Pop-Tarts Bowl mascots took the field in their wrappers and ripped them off in front of the crowd in style.
Seriously, this display of Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot magic was like the introduction at a pro wrestling match. These Pop-Tarts Bowl mascots understood the assignment to hype up the crowd and then some!
It’s hard for us to know which Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot won their fiery introduction, but we’re more than fine giving them a three-way tie.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl is officially a college football institution because of moments like this.
And now, there’s a twist with the trophy: thanks to some incredible work with GE Appliances, the winner of the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl between Iowa State and Miami gets a trophy with … A WORKING TOASTER.
That’s right, the football at the top can be used to warm up a pair of Pop-Tarts. I would hope that the winner’s coach puts this thing in his kitchen and uses it for eternity.
Our No. 1 picks for Pop-Tarts flavors and our undrafted free agents.
We’re deep into college football bowl game season, and that means it’s officially Pop-Tarts Bowl time. Formerly the Cheez-It Bowl (RIP), the Pop-Tarts Bowl debuted last season and quickly captured the attention and hearts of college football fans everywhere.
In honor of the Pop-Tarts Bowl’s return and ahead of Saturday’s game between No. 13 Miami (Fla.) and No. 18 Iowa State, we here at For The Win had a unique Pop-Tarts draft where everyone named their No. 1 overall first-round flavor pick and the flavor that shall forever remain an undrafted free agent.
I have many bittersweet memories of eating the S’mores flavor as little treats untoasted before school when I woke up late. Not a balanced breakfast but so good! As for confetti cupcake, I’ve never had this but somebody else can hold that one for me, no thanks. — Bryan Kalbrosky
Dec 28, 2023; Orlando, FL, USA; the Pop-Tarts bowl mascot Strawberry emerges for fans before the start of a game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and Kansas State Wildcats at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t know if it’s nostalgia from likely being the first Pop-Tart I ever had, but frosted strawberry is my idea of what a Pop-Tart is supposed to taste like. The further we deviate from that, the less I want it. Unfrosted brown sugar cinnamon is my definition of deviation. Unfrosted anything is a no-good. — Prince J. Grimes
Strawberry Pop-Tarts are really the only way to eat Pop-Tarts. Every other flavor comes in second place. Except brown sugar cinnamon, which deserves to be thrown off the face of the earth. — Mike D. Sykes, II
It’s close, but I like the blueberry Pop-Tarts slightly more than the strawberry ones. Perfect for a snack or a meal, anytime, any place. Of the super-sweet, desert variety of Pop-Tarts, these are the best. — Mitchell Northam
It’s the GOAT flavor. Perfect for breakfast or dessert. Consistent every time. When I think of Pop-Tarts, this is the flavor that pops in my head. I’m not wasting a draft pick on the defunct Froot Loops crossover, but I certainly see the potential here. An invite to training camp to see what its got costs nothing but has a very high ceiling. — Blake Schuster
Nothing quite soothes the soul like frosted wild berry. Every other flavor is a peasant in comparison. Your favorite flavors could never. Speaking of never, chocolate fudge should never see the light of day again. It tastes like cardboard and literal sandpaper. It disgusts me and makes me want to vomit. — Meghan L. Hall
Frosted cherry is so underrated and edges out frosted strawberry for No. 1 in my mind. Of course, there’s a nostalgia factor to consider, but this flavor has to be one of the best and isn’t too sweet. I love chocolate, love cinnamon, but when it comes those flavors in Pop-Tarts, that’s a hard pass. — Michelle Martinelli
It’s no secret that there are a lot of college football bowl games and that many of them have mascots — some fun, some odd, some perfect for an absurd sport — that are tied to the bowl’s sponsor.
We here at For The Win are not for #brands, but we do love the weirdness and quirks of bowl game mascots that enhance the ever-present ridiculous of the sport. So we’re ranking bowl game mascots for the 2024-25 season.
This ranking is deeply unserious and purely for fun, and while many of our favorite bowl mascots are from this season, others are delightful characters from past bowls that we couldn’t resist including. So here are our top-8 college football bowl game mascots, as of the 2024 season.
8. Whatever the hell Beef ‘O’ Brady was (Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, RIP)
Dec 23, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; East Carolina Pirates offensive linesman Will Simmons (70) blocks against the Ohio Bobcats during the second quarter at the 2013 Beef O Bradys Bowl at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
I’m assuming some kind of 1920s-style Irish bare-knuckle boxer. I never actually watched the game. Not even sure it was a real mascot. Honorable mention to the Bad Boys Mower, who once hustled back to Florida after a scene-stealing Mad Men cameo in 2011. — Christian D’Andrea
7. Tony the Tiger (Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl)
Tony the Tiger hugs special teams player of the game, Arizona State placekicker Christian Zendejas, left, and offensive MVP, Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels Tuesday, December, 31, 2019 at the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Tuesday in El Paso, Texas. (Mark Lambie/USA TODAY Network)
I don’t know enough about bowls or mascots to make the most informed ranking, but I’ll roll with Tony because who doesn’t love Tony and those delicious Frosted Flakes? — Prince J. Grimes
6. Snoop Dogg (Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBWk492PjTB/
The D-O-Double-G has been a caricature of himself for years now. A mascot and a product all in one, capable of making you laugh, dance and genuinely ask, “Why are you doing this?” If that’s not the spirit of bowl season, nothing is. — Blake Schuster
5. Prince Cheddward (Cheez-It Bowl, RIP)
Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Cheez-it’s mascot Prince Cheddward entertains the crowd before the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl featuring the Oklahoma Sooners and Florida State at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Get a load of this guy! While he is not edible, mascots should not be edible anyway! In fact, it’s weird that the Pop-Tarts mascot is indeed edible. Long live Prince Cheddward. — Bryan Kalbrosky
Specifically, Ryan Nanni as the Bloomin’ Onion at the Outback Bowl in 2018. I’ve never been more inspired to become a bloomin’ onion in my life. Or maybe some cheese fries. Who knows? Outback Bowl, if you ever come back, HMU. — Mike D. Sykes, II
3. Obie (Orange Bowl)
Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Orange Bowl mascot dances with the Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders after the 2013 BCS Championship game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Life Stadium. Alabama won 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Obie is a crime against humanity and my eyes. From the clearly illogical placement of his arms to the creepy smile, I feel aggrieved. Whoever created him, COUNT YOUR DAYS. — Meghan L. Hall
2. The (edible-ish) Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 28: The Pop-Tart mascot looks on following the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium between the Kansas State Wildcats and the NC State Wolfpack on December 28, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
How can you not love this thing?! The Pop-Tart Bowl mascot lived an entire life cycle during its bowl debut last season, celebrating and having fun before meeting its toaster demise and getting devoured. It lived its dream and hopefully started a wacky tradition that never dies — even if the Pop-Tart itself does every year. — Michelle R. Martinelli
Dec 27, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown gets covered in mayonnaise after the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
He has thick eyebrows, white arms and yellow legs. He is comforting but also terrifying. He is a walking jar of mayo that is rooting for above-average football in Charlotte, and he lives to see the winner of that game get drenched in twangy Duke’s. Tubby is inevitable. — Mitchell Northam
The Pop-Tarts Bowl social team created an Oppenheimer parody of the new trophy, which doubles as a functional toaster.
Even if you haven’t seen Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning blockbuster, you have to appreciate the creativity on display.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl is the gift that keeps on giving, and we hope there are more parodies on display in the time to come.
Perhaps they’ll do a Gladiator parody next? Imagine it.
A big Pop-Tart gladiator standing in the coliseum, swinging a foam sword around after “vanquishing” a Toaster Strudel. Are you not entertained by the Pop-Tarts Bowl?! Okay, maybe not. This is still pretty fun.
https://t.co/47xmvGhWyn pic.twitter.com/Tnv2MKSmDf
(@BYUFlorida) 
GE Appliances = the NEW Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy with a built-in WORKING (!!!) toaster