Does anyone know what life was like before the Pop Tarts Bowl? I don’t, and I sure as heck don’t want to go back.
For those of you unaware, the Pop Tarts Bowl is part of the post-season collegiate American football schedule (the NCAAF bowl series). There are dozens of these kinds of undercard games that prepare the US for the national championship.
Among all these one has risen to become the unofficial people’s championship: The Pop Tarts Bowl.
It’s everything you could ask for about American football culture. It’s got two football teams slamming against each other played inside a big stadium and sponsored by the most delicious breakfast pastry you’ve ever seen. Oh, the trophy also serves as a functioning toaster.
The Pop Tart Bowl’s lore is also growing.
After the first Pop Tarts Bowl game in 2023, the Strawberry Pop Tart mascot was sacrificed by being lowered into a giant toaster on the field, where the winning team ate its cooked remains.
A year after that Pop Tart was essentially brought back to life. The Cinnamon Roll Pop Tart was then the sacrificial treat.
That brings us to 2025 - the biggest bowl game yet.
Three Pop Tart mascots - Protein Slammin’ Strawberry, Cookies & Creme and Cherry - stood aloft the giant toaster after BYU defeated Georgia Tech at the Camping World Stadium in Florida. But while the second and third mascots expressed excitement about being lowered into the toaster, Slammin Strawberry held a sight that said “Not my dream … yet” before jumping off the toaster. The remaining two were then descended and sacrificed.
But that isn’t the end, at least not yet, with Slammin Strawberry leaving a sign that previewed a potential return next year.
All this is to say, who cares who wins the national championship? And who really cares who won the Pop Tarts Bowl? All I care is about the new mythology behind it.
Fitzie’s track of the day: The Number of the Beast, by Iron Maiden
And now for your links:
The Standard: “Archie Gray embodies the best of imperfect Tottenham as courage trumps creativity in hard-fought win”
Alasdair Gold: “Tottenham’s January transfer priority, Paratici’s role and what confused Archie Gray”
Jack P-B ($$): “Tottenham’s away form is invaluable, but more is needed to convince fans”
BBC: “Hull win at Middlesbrough to close gap on top two”
ESPN: “‘Is it a real functional toaster?’: Behind the scramble to engineer the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy”