As the old saying goes, “To the victor belong the spoils” and on Thursday night, Kansas State’s football team was treated to one heck of a spoil shortly after a victory.
The Wildcats defeated North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Shortly after the game, Kansas State gathered a giant toaster on the field. On top of the toaster was the game’s edible mascot — a giant Pop-Tart — dancing to Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff.”
Then, things got real.
In November, it was announced that the Pop-Tarts Bowl would have an edible mascot. It was, of course, fair to wonder exactly how that would work. On Thursday night, that question was answered.
The mascot held up a sign that said “Dreams really do come true” and began to slowly descend into the toaster. As he fell out of the camera’s view, he threw the sign out. After a few seconds, a chute at the bottom of the toaster opened. Out of it emerged a giant Pop-Tart for the Wildcats to enjoy.
They did just that.
Here we are… the edible mascot in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.. pic.twitter.com/0XgKGoXseS
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) December 29, 2023
Naturally, this had people buzzing.
I never want to hear that the bowl games dont matter again https://t.co/BkT9Iab8c5
— Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) December 29, 2023
I don’t know whose idea it was to play Hot Stuff during this but they deserve a raise immediately https://t.co/nwmuuZpywL
— Morgan Moriarty (@Morgan_Moriarty) December 29, 2023
Every football game should end with the ritual eating of the mascot https://t.co/4PH1sh24uf
— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) December 29, 2023
Best sport. Imagine trying to explain this to someone from Europe. https://t.co/F45TTirqWw
— Roar Lions Roar (@RLRblog) December 29, 2023
Special time to be alive. https://t.co/Xus3qjA7sy
— Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst) December 29, 2023
When the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams next season, all of the New Year’s Six games will be part of the championship tournament. Will any other bowls emerge as the best of the rest? If this is what the Pop-Tarts Bowl has to offer going forward, don’t be surprised to see this become a destination bowl.
[PJ Green on Twitter/X, Photo Credit: ESPN+]
