The Pop-Tarts Bowl Trophy: Why The 2024 Toaster Design Is The Most Viral Award In Sports History

As of December 28, 2024, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has officially cemented its place as the most unique and viral college football bowl game in history, thanks to a championship trophy that is also a fully functional toaster. This groundbreaking award was presented to the Iowa State Cyclones after their thrilling 42-41 victory over the Miami Hurricanes at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, making their win not just a record-setting achievement but a moment of breakfast-themed sports history. The innovative design, a collaboration between the Pop-Tarts brand (Kellanova) and GE Appliances, ensures the winning team can toast their favorite pastry any time they want, a perfect complement to the game's now-famous edible mascot tradition. The trophy’s reveal for the 2024 matchup between the Big 12's Iowa State and the ACC's Miami instantly captivated the sports world, building on the immense curiosity generated by the inaugural game's edible Pop-Tarts mascot in 2023. The 2024 edition raised the stakes with the addition of the working toaster, turning a traditional sports award into a piece of kitchen appliance art. This fusion of college football spectacle and breakfast snack marketing has created a unique phenomenon that continues to drive massive fan engagement and topical authority for the event.

The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl: A Toaster Trophy is Born

The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl delivered a high-scoring, nail-biting finish, but the real star of the post-game ceremony was the championship hardware. The trophy, a shimmering silver football mounted on a base, features two metallic slots for inserting Pop-Tarts, making it the first championship trophy in sports to include a working toaster.

Iowa State Cyclones: 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl Champions

The Iowa State Cyclones, led by head coach Matt Campbell, secured a dramatic 42-41 upset victory over the No. 12 Miami Hurricanes. This win marked a school record for the Cyclones and concluded a memorable season. The MVP of the game, Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht, had the distinct honor of selecting the edible Pop-Tarts mascot to be toasted and consumed in a now-iconic post-game celebration. The physical toaster trophy itself is a testament to the brand's commitment to memorable and unconventional marketing.

• Matchup: No. 18 Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12) vs. No. 12 Miami Hurricanes (ACC)
• Date: December 28, 2024
• Final Score: Iowa State 42, Miami 41
• Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
• Trophy Design: A football-shaped trophy with a built-in, fully functional toaster.
• Trophy Collaboration: Pop-Tarts (Kellanova) and GE Appliances.

The trophy’s innovative design, which combines a traditional sports aesthetic with the utility of a kitchen appliance, has been a major talking point across all media platforms. The attention generated by the *functional toaster* trophy has been so significant that it is scheduled to be displayed at the College Football Hall of Fame, a move that solidifies its status as a cultural phenomenon beyond the gridiron.

The Edible Mascot: How a Snack Became a Sports Tradition

While the 2024 toaster trophy is new, it is an evolution of a tradition that began with the bowl's inaugural game in 2023: the edible mascot. The concept of an *edible mascot* was the first of its kind in sports history, immediately capturing the imagination of college football fans.

The Frosted Cinnamon Roll Selection

For the 2024 game, the tradition continued with two live Pop-Tarts mascots—Team Sprinkles and Team Swirls—representing different flavors. After the Iowa State victory, game MVP Rocco Becht selected the *Frosted Cinnamon Roll Pop-Tarts mascot* to be toasted and eaten by his teammates. The sight of a giant pastry mascot being lowered into a massive toaster and then consumed by the celebrating team has become the defining image of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The 2023 game saw the Kansas State Wildcats defeat the NC State Wolfpack, with the winning team devouring the *edible Pop-Tarts* mascot in a moment that went instantly viral. This playful and unique ceremony, which merges the excitement of a bowl win with the simple joy of a toasted snack, is a massive success for Kellanova's marketing strategy, showcasing the brand's ability to create a truly unforgettable and shareable sports moment.

From Blockbuster to Breakfast: The Bowl's Storied History

While the current name and trophy are relatively new, the bowl game itself has a long and complex history, operated by Florida Citrus Sports. The Pop-Tarts Bowl's deep roots in college football provide the necessary *topical authority* to its otherwise whimsical presentation.

A Legacy of Name Changes

The game has undergone numerous sponsorship and name changes since its inception, a common practice in the world of college bowl games. Understanding its lineage is key to appreciating the current spectacle. * Blockbuster Bowl: The game was originally born in Miami, Florida, in 1990 as the Blockbuster Bowl. * Tangerine Bowl: The game moved to Central Florida and was, at one point, called the Tangerine Bowl, a tribute to Orlando's original bowl game (now the VRBO Citrus Bowl). * Cheez-It Bowl: Immediately preceding the Pop-Tarts sponsorship, the bowl was known as the Cheez-It Bowl for three seasons, also featuring a highly-marketed, snack-themed post-game celebration. The current Pop-Tarts Bowl, played at Camping World Stadium, continues the tradition of matching top selections from the ACC and the Big 12 conferences. By embracing the unconventional, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has managed to stand out in the crowded landscape of college football bowl games, generating widespread attention that far exceeds its previous iterations. The *functional toaster trophy* ensures that the 2024 edition will be remembered not just for the thrilling Iowa State victory, but for forever changing what a championship trophy can be.