Carrying a white T-shirt and hat studying “The Individuals’s Nationwide Champions” alongside his BYU teammates, freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier made the largest resolution on the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday night time.
The MVP ordered Staff Sprinkles — Slammin’ Strawberry, Frosted Cherry and Frosted Cookies & Creme — to their fake deaths. Solely, Slammin’ Strawberry wasn’t having it. The buffed-up, life-sized, anamorphic protein bar took a dive off the large toaster to keep away from its destiny.
The annual sacrifice of the pop-tarts on the Pop-Tarts Bowl 😭 pic.twitter.com/VeKFbVfNSE
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2025
The dramatic end to the postgame ceremony ended with BYU coach Kalani Sitake digging into the massive pastry model of Frosted Cookies — a becoming celebration for the Cougars’ 25-21 come-from-behind victory over Georgia Tech at Tenting World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
The 50-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals fullback just about devoured something put in entrance of him.
“I’ve bought about eight kilos I’ve bought to realize earlier than I get to my New 12 months’s decision,” Sitake stated.
The Cougars (12-2) trailed 21-10 getting into the fourth quarter earlier than Bachmeier led them to their third come-from-behind victory of the season. First, Bachmeier engineered an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped by his 2-point conversion run into the tip zone over a Georgia Tech linebacker.
Then, he led a nine-play, 70-yard drive to take the lead with two minutes to play. BYU performed the sport with out star operating again LJ Martin, the Huge 12’s Offensive Participant of the 12 months. Bachmeier stepped up, ending 27-for-38 passing for 325 yards, a landing and an interception.
Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King — the ACC’s Offensive Participant of the 12 months — tried to rally his workforce to victory late. On fourth down at his personal 16-yard line, King linked with Eric Rivers for a 66-yard acquire to place Georgia Tech (9-4) in place to win the sport. Nonetheless, after three incompletions, he was intercepted by Evan Johnson ultimately zone – the identical participant Rivers beat on the 66-yard play.
BYU PICKS OFF HAYNES KING TO WIN THE POP-TARTS BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD! pic.twitter.com/cYB6VBI3HW
— ESPN (@espn) December 28, 2025
“I knew it was going to be a tricky activity coming again, however I’d do something to play with these brothers,” stated Bachmeier, who performed on an injured ankle. “I’m so glad to get the win.”
As common, the Pop-Tarts Bowl absolutely embraced the absurd, that includes deep-fried Strawberry, Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Frosted S’mores creations, together with nachos, trifles and hot-fudge waffle cone sundaes.
An early huge shot of the stadium that circulated on social media teased the large toaster that will later decrease a courageous mascot to be toasted and devoured by the winners. Georgia Tech’s band leaned into the spectacle as properly, sporting a Pop-Tart trombone slide cowl because the scene unfolded.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl was first referred to as the Blockbuster Bowl in 1990 and underwent 10 sponsor adjustments earlier than it turned pastry-centric in 2023. Within the first Pop-Tarts Bowl, Kansas State beat NC State 28-19 in entrance of a crowd of about 31,000 followers, however garnered tens of millions of impressions on-line with the postgame pageantry led by Frosted Strawberry.
Final yr, Iowa State beat Miami in a dramatic 42-41 end. With Donna Summer time’s traditional hit “Scorching Stuff” booming by the audio system at Tenting World Stadium, the mascot referred to as Cinnamon Roll danced its method to immortality.
This yr, bowl organizers created two groups to be sacrificed. In the long run, Slammin’ Strawberry escaped and lived to inform one other day.
