The 2024 iteration of the Pop-Tarts Bowl prepares to take over Orlando, can it live up to the hype?

College football bowl games have gotten a bad rap over these last few years. Between overly corporate sounding bowl sponsors replacing classic names to games between teams that no one outside of their respective fan bases really think deserved a game in the first place. What we needed was innovation. What was needed was a new approach. What was needed, was the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 28 Pop-Tarts Bowl - NC State vs Kansas State ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: The Pop-Tart Bowl mascot, Strawberry, after the game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Kansas State Wildcats on December 28, 2023 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Last season, Pop-Tarts took over as the title sponsor of the “other” bowl game at Camping World Stadium. And among name changes, it wasn’t of particular notice. Like I mentioned, name changes happen at a head spinning rate for some of these bowl games. It was just another link in the chain.

But it is what they did with that name change, centering their advertising around a “living” mascot that teams would get to eat after the win certainly garnered attention. And the team toaster shaped trophy as well hit all the right notes.

It became the social media darling of the 2023 bowl season and now, as with any other great social media campaign everyone looks to hit the second time around. But it doesn’t always work out.

Behind the scenes of building a trophy that really 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙨 to the occasion! 🏆 https://t.co/PRrFePd3YY
— Pop-Tarts Bowl (@PopTartsBowl) December 20, 2024

Well, the Pop-Tarts Bowl looks at that challenge and laughed. They worked directly with GE to develop a trophy that not only looks like a toaster like last season but now is a functioning toaster. One editable mascot last season, don’t worry. They’ll have 3 this season including the return of a retired flavor. They even worked with the NCAA to get special permission to decorate the sidelines with sprinkles.

And don’t discount the game they were able to pull, featuring the best matchup outside of the College Football Playoff between 18th ranked Iowa State, who played in the Big XII championship game against Arizona State, and an in-state team in 13th ranked Miami that fell short of expectations after 2 losses towards the end of the season.

Can it live up to the hype? I sure think they will. And by the way, the best Pop-Tart is smores. Obviously.