ORLANDO — Wild Berry, Hot Fudge Sundae and Cinnamon Roll stood on stage waiting for Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP Rocco Becht to reach a fateful decision.
Iowa State’s quarterback didn’t hesitate.
“Well, I really like cinnamon rolls so when I heard about the choices that was my immediate go-to,” said Becht, who capped the Cyclones’ game-winning, 15-play, 84-yard touchdown drive on a one-yard dive into the end zone with 56 seconds left to beat Miami, 42-41, on Saturday.
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“It tasted better than I thought it was gonna taste.”
With Donna Summer’s classic hit “Hot Stuff” booming through the speakers at Camping World Stadium, the mascot known as Cinnamon Roll danced its way to immortality.
It joined last year’s mascot — Frosted Strawberry — as one of the two greatest faux deaths in Pop-Tarts Bowl history. The sacrifice: Being lowered into a giant toaster. On the other end, an edible frosted cinnamon roll cake popped out for coaches and players from Iowa State to devour.
The college football tradition of killing and eating the mascot has finished.
Frosted Cinnamon Roll, we thank you for your sacrifice to the gods. pic.twitter.com/MMNBWndXNW
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 29, 2024
The Pop-Tarts Bowl cashed in big from last year’s viral antics. Looking to add more to its game this year, Pop-Tarts Bowl organizers added sprinkles to the sidelines on the field and turned its trophy into a real plug-in toaster.
There was more once the game began.
The devouring of Pop-Tarts actually began earlier in the day. At one point in the second half, Miami mascot Sebastian The Ibis attacked Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae with a barrage of bites. The mascots hugged it out afterward.
"SEBASTIAN, STOP!" 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/KmI40q6lh0
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) December 28, 2024
The Pop-Tarts Bowl was born as the Blockbuster Bowl in 1990 and underwent 10 sponsor changes before it became pastry-centric last year. In the first Pop-Tarts Bowl, Kansas State beat NC State 28-19 in front of a crowd of about 31,000 fans but garnered millions of impressions online with the postgame pageantry led by Frosted Strawberry.
This year’s game was more entertaining in its own right.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward set a new NCAA record for career passing touchdowns in the first half before giving way to sophomore backup Emory Williams. The Hurricanes led 38-28 before the Cyclones rallied in the second half to win the game and clinch their first 11-win season in school history.
.@PopTartsBowl CHAMPIONS. pic.twitter.com/KV7zT3giLj
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) December 29, 2024
POP-TARTS DUMP!!! pic.twitter.com/KX7MTDBhUT
— Pop-Tarts Bowl (@PopTartsBowl) December 29, 2024
Mouth Heaven gained another angel! 💙 #PopTartsBowl pic.twitter.com/0hkfozfgjU
— Pop-Tarts Bowl (@PopTartsBowl) December 29, 2024
Required reading
- Miami QB Cam Ward breaks D-I career TD passes record, pulled at halftime of Pop-Tarts Bowl
- Pop-Tarts Bowl ups the college football postseason antics — and fun — with its toaster trophy
- What’s next for the bowls? How the non-Playoff postseason is bracing for the future
- Pop-Tarts Bowl to feature 3 edible mascots, game MVP to pick which gets eaten
(Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
