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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/DampFrijoles on 2025-12-28 23:24:12+00:00.

By Andrew Sagona

ORLANDO, Fla. — Forget the game happening in a few weeks. The People’s National Championship occurred last night, and it did not disappoint.

No. 11 BYU (12–2, 8–2 Big 12) secured its first 12-win season since 2001 with a thrilling win 25–21 over No. 23 Georgia Tech (9–4, 6–2 ACC) in the 2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl that doubled as the first ranked vs. ranked matchup of the 2025–26 bowl season.

After only a few short years, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has become the premier toaster pastry-themed sporting event on earth. The marketing team saw the Pop-Tarts appear in Ireland ahead of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. They introduced more Pop-Tart characters and did their best to up the ante on zaniness . . . then college football drama stepped in to kick it up a notch on Selection Sunday when Notre Dame controversially opted-out of this contest in a protest over their exclusion from the College Football Playoff. Could the game maintain the level of mania?

Crazy Game

Pop-Tarts’ slogan is “Crazy Good.” The on field action in this game was just purely crazy to start. ” Just to list a few of the more notable moments:

  • Georgia Tech lined up for a field goal attempt, shifted into a wildcat formation, leading to a touchdown by RB Trelain Maddox
  • Georgia Tech scored two touchdowns in 13 seconds due to a muffed kickoff return by BYU’s Cody Hagen

Those two touchdowns gave the Yellow Jackets a 21–10 lead going into halftime, a lead they would maintain an absurd 3rd quarter that included:

  • BYU DE Nusi Taumoepeau forcing a fumble with his foot after tripping
  • An interception by BYU QB Bear Bachmeier being overturned due to pass interference only to be intercepted again four plays later in the end zone, on the drive immediately following the foot-forced fumble
  • BYU DT Keanu Tanuvasa blocking a 35 yard field goal attempt

The entire 3rd quarter was scoreless and both teams’ offenses were not accomplishing much, so there was a sense that the game might have a fairly benign ending.

Crazy Good Game

Thr magic of the Pop-Tarts Bowl reemerged in the 4th quarter, and thus the game went from just crazy to Crazy Good.

BYU got a touchdown and a clutch two-point conversion early to bring the score to 21–18. The teams traded punts on the next three drives, and then the Cougars’ offense sprung back to life, marching 70 yards down the field in just under four minutes for the go-ahead touchdown, making the score 25–21 with exactly two minutes left.

On the ensuing drive, Georgia Tech almost fumbled away the game on the second play and then were backed up into a seemingly impossible 4th and 15 situation at their own 16 yard line. But then, Yellow Jackets’ QB Haynes King unleashed a 66-yard bomb to WR Eric Rivers to keep the game alive. Georgia Tech inched their way closer to a potential game-winning touchdown, making it as far as the BYU 18, but King threw an interception in the end zone on 4th down to seal the game. The drama in those last two drives was nothing short of impeccable

Prowling Pop-Tart

Surrounding this hectic game was the ever-present insanity of giant Pop-Tarts mascots. The bowl took things up a notch this year by featuring six mascots. The mascots were broken up into two teams of three each, the “winning” team was chosen via online poll, and said team would be consumed by the champion of the bowl game.

Team Sprinkles, consisting of Protein Slammin’ Strawberry, Frosted Cookies & Creme, and Frosted Cherry, won the poll. Just before the trio were dropped into the toaster to be cooked to perfection, in a twist worthy of Alfred Hitchcock, Strawberry jumped off of the toaster, ran out of the stadium, leaving only a cryptic sign behind: “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me!”