Pop-Tarts Bowl celebration, explained: BYU commemorates win over Georgia Tech with toaster strudel sacrifice

David Suggs

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Pop-Tarts Bowl celebration, explained: BYU commemorates win over Georgia Tech with toaster strudel sacrifice image

College football fans were treated to a feast for the eyes during No. 12 BYU’s matchup with No. 22 Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

The Cougars and Yellow Jackets took a page out of Iowa State and Miami’s notebooks, following last year’s epic in Orlando with another classic. For the second time in as many seasons, victory belonged to a Big 12 side. Bear Bachmeier and BYU rallied from a two-score deficit to vanquish their ACC foes and secure one of college football’s most unique trophies — a toaster.

The game came with plenty of fixings. Lengthy touchdown drives? Check. Last-minute fireworks? You got it.

Most importantly, though, the game had Pop-Tarts. The famed snacks were roasted over a spit at the final whistle. But which flavors suffered the glorious fate of being sacrificed to the breakfast gods? Here’s what you need to know.

MORE: Inside the virality of the Pop-Tarts Bowl and why Notre Dame passed

Pop-Tarts Bowl celebration, explained

Kellanova (formerly Kellogg's) vowed to up the ante for the bowl named after its signature brand of toaster pastries in 2025. Dubbed "The People's National Championship" by fans (or rather, Kellanova invoking its countless "fans"), the Pop-Tarts Bowl featured four teams in total — Georgia Tech, BYU, Team Sprinkles and Team Swirls. The latter two sides consisted of three mascots each.

Their participation in the contest was a risk. Fans were tasked with deciding which of the two sides would be sacrificed to the breakfast gods. An online fan vote was conducted to determine which pastries would become ancestors.

The ceremony was bigger than any of its predecessors. The Yellow Jackets benefitted from Kellanova's innovation, filling their gullets with the sweet taste of processed sugar and Red 40.

BYU held up its end of the bargain, holding Brett Key's renowned attack ghost-quiet in Orlando. The Cougars were summarily rewarded with one of the most memorable meals of their lives.

The mascots were a regular part of the proceedings. Each pled with the public, searching for a stay of execution.

But the sweet release of heat death awaited three of them upon the final whistle. In the end, Team Sprinkles — consisting of Cookies and Cream, Slammin' Strawberry and Cherry — was condemned to the fiery inferno. Slammin' Strawberry pulled away at the last sceond, leaving his teammates in the lurch as they burnt to a crisp.

Nevertheless, BYU devoured its rations without shame. The remnants of the meal stained Cougars' players' mouths and chins.

MORE: Why does BYU QB Bear Bachmeier wear No. 47?

Pop-Tart celebration video

Here's a look at the moment when Cherry and Cookies and Cream were turned into a memory at Camping World Stadium. Kalani Sitake and Co. Devoured the carcasses with impunity. Given all they overcame to hoist the confection, you can understand why.

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