BYU pulled off a comeback victory over Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, earning the right to devour giant toaster pastries in one of college football’s most unique celebrations.
The No. 12 Cougars rallied from a two-score deficit to defeat the No. 22 Yellow Jackets in Orlando. Bear Bachmeier led the comeback that secured BYU’s claim to the trophy toaster.
For the second straight year, the Pop-Tarts Bowl delivered another classic finish. Last season’s thriller between Iowa State and Miami set the bar high, but this year’s matchup delivered its own drama.
The game featured everything fans wanted. Long touchdown drives kept both teams moving the ball effectively. Last-minute scoring added the tension that makes bowl games memorable.
But the real spectacle came after the final whistle.
Four Teams Entered, Three Got Roasted
Kellanova expanded the Pop-Tarts Bowl celebration this year. The company added Team Sprinkles and Team Swirls as participants alongside the actual football teams.
Each mascot team consisted of three Pop-Tart characters. Fans voted online to determine which team would face the breakfast gods’ judgment.
Team Sprinkles lost the vote. Cookies and Cream, Slammin’ Strawberry, and Cherry were sentenced to the spit.
The mascots played their roles throughout the game. They entertained fans, comforted players during tough moments, and generally created chaos on the sidelines.
The Pop-Tarts mascots at the Pop-Tarts Bowl are true chaos agents.
“Three Pop-Tarts are gonna be sacrificed today, people!” pic.twitter.com/REhOWNXGyB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 27, 2025
The Georgia Tech mascot even received comfort from Pop-Tart characters after a turnover.
The Georgia Tech mascot was sad after they turned the ball over and needed to be comforted by the Pop-tarts pic.twitter.com/nKCBqKS62U
— Patrick Barron (@BlueBarronPhoto) December 27, 2025
But when the game ended, three mascots faced their fate. Slammin’ Strawberry made a last-second escape attempt, leaving Cookies and Cream and Cherry to face the heat alone.
The Sweet Taste of Victory
Kalani Sitake and his players gathered around the giant toaster as the ceremony began. The winning tradition continued at Camping World Stadium, where processed sugar and victory combined into one memorable moment.
BYU’s comeback made the celebration even sweeter. The Cougars overcame a two-score deficit against Brent Key’s Georgia Tech offense to earn their unusual trophy.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl has established itself as college football’s most entertaining bowl game. Kellanova’s sponsorship creates a spectacle that gives fans something they can’t find anywhere else.
Imagine telling someone from Europe:
“So yeah in America we play College Football and there’s this season ending bowl game called the Pop Tart Bowl. The winner of the game eats life sized Pop Tarts and are claimed the people national champion’s”
pic.twitter.com/TFLCQIYXCg— Garrett Armbrust (@4thandsaturday) December 28, 2025
The victory gives BYU bragging rights as the latest winner of what fans call “The People’s National Championship.” More importantly, it gives the Cougars a bowl victory and one of the most unique celebrations in all of sports.
