The Cougars rallied for a 25-21 victory.
BYU linebacker Bear Bachmeier (47) throws the ball under pressure from the Georgia Tech defense during the first half of the NCAA college football game Pop-Tarts Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
Wearing a white T-shirt and hat emblazoned with “The People’s National Champions” along with his BYU teammates, freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier made the biggest decision Saturday night at the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
MVP orders Team Sprinkles – Slammin’ Strawberry, Frosted Cherry, and Frosted Cookies & Creme – to fake their deaths. Only Slammin’ Strawberry wasn’t having it. A shiny, life-sized anthropomorphic protein bar dived out of a giant toaster to avoid its fate.
The dramatic conclusion to the postgame ceremony ended with BYU coach Kalani Sitak digging into a large confectionary version of Frosted Cookies — a fitting celebration of the Cougars’ 25-21 victory over Georgia Tech at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
The 50-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals fullback basically gobbled up everything put in front of him.
“I have about eight pounds to gain before I can reach my New Year’s resolution,” Sitake said.
The Cougars (12-2) trailed 21-10 in the fourth quarter before Bachmeier came from behind to lead them to their third win of the season. First, Bachmeier engineered an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive capped by his 2-point conversion into the end zone over a Georgia Tech linebacker.
He then led a nine-play, 70-yard drive to take the lead with two minutes to play. BYU played the game without star running back LJ Martin, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Bachmeier stepped in, completing 27-for-38 passes for 325 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King — the ACC Offensive Player of the Year — tried to rally his team to victory late. On fourth down at its own 16-yard line, King connected with Eric Rivers for a 66-yard gain to put Georgia Tech (9-4) in position to win the game. However, after three incompletions, he was intercepted in the end zone by Evan Johnson – the same player Rivers beat on a 66-yard play.
“I knew it would be a tough task to come back, but I would have done anything to play with these brothers,” said Bachmeier, who played with an injured ankle. “I’m so glad I won.
As usual, the Pop-Tarts Bowl fully embraced the absurd, featuring fried strawberry, brown sugar, cinnamon, and Frosted S’mores creations, along with nachos, trifles, and hot waffle cups.
An early wide shot of the stadium that went viral on social media teased a giant toaster, which later launched the plucky mascot to be toasted and eaten by the winners. The Georgia Tech band also leaned into the spectacle as the set unfolded from the pop-tart trombone.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl was first known as the Blockbuster Bowl in 1990 and went through 10 sponsor changes before becoming pastry-centric in 2023. In the first Pop-Tarts Bowl the state of kansas defeat NC state 28-19 in front of a crowd of about 31,000 fans, but racked up millions of views online with a pogame display led by Frosted Strawberry.
Last year, Iowa State beat Miami in a dramatic 42-41 finish. With Donna Summer’s classic hit “Hot Stuff” blaring through the speakers at Camping World Stadium, the mascot known as Cinnamon Roll danced his way to immortality.
This year, the bowling organizers have created two teams that need to be sacrificed. In the end, Slammin’ Strawberry escaped and lived to see another day.
This article originally appeared in Athletic.
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