How the Pop-Tarts Bowl and Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Became Must-Watch Events in College Football’s Postseason
If you’re still one of those fans who shrugs off bowl season as a sideshow to the College Football Playoff, you might want to tune in this weekend. Because in Orlando, the Pop-Tarts Bowl and Cheez-It Citrus Bowl aren’t just games - they’ve become full-blown experiences. And at the center of it all is Steve Hogan, the CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, who’s spent over three decades helping shape the city’s sports identity.
But even Hogan admits he didn’t see this coming.
“It’s hard not to laugh for different reasons,” Hogan said, reflecting on last year’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl between Illinois and South Carolina. “The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl having a wedding on the field. I never thought I would necessarily see that over my career, but there we were.”
Yes, a wedding. On the field. During a bowl game.
That moment was just one of many wild, memorable wrinkles that have turned these Orlando-based bowls into viral sensations. From edible mascots to players soaking in Cheez-It-branded hot tubs, the Pop-Tarts and Cheez-It Citrus Bowls have leaned all the way into the fun - and fans have responded in a big way.
A Playful Approach That Works
Both games are held at Camping World Stadium and have found their sweet spot by embracing the creativity of their corporate partners - without crossing the line into gimmickry that disrespects the game.
“There’s always been a willingness on our side to be receptive to creativity,” Hogan said. “But it’s important that it never comes at the expense of the teams, players, or coaches.”
That balance has paid off. The Pop-Tarts Bowl, in particular, has become a cultural moment in its own right.
Last year’s “funeral” for the Strawberry Pop-Tart - followed by its resurrection this season - racked up millions of views and became a viral hit across social media. And when GE helped create a working toaster as the game’s trophy?
That broke the internet too.
“With Strawberry coming back from the afterlife and the toaster - who knew?” Hogan said. “You never dreamed that kind of stuff would be possible, but it’s just a blast.”
This year, the Pop-Tarts Bowl features No. 24 Georgia Tech against No.
12 BYU, while the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl pits No. 13 Texas against No.
18 Michigan. Both games promise more of the same high-energy fun - and, more importantly, high-quality football.
Notre Dame’s Absence and the Bigger Picture
One storyline heading into bowl season was Notre Dame’s decision not to participate. The Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff despite being ranked ahead of Miami - the final at-large team - for much of November. But Hogan doesn’t view their absence as a slight to the Orlando bowls.
“I don’t take the decision Notre Dame made as a kind of shot at the bowl game opportunity,” Hogan said. “I truly believe there was some severe emotional disappointment and not enough time to deal with that.”
Notre Dame has a history with both games, having played in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in 2018 and the Pop-Tarts Bowl (then the Camping World Bowl) in 2011 and 2019. This time around, Hogan said the Irish were not in the selection pool when decisions were made.
“Technically, they were not available to us at that point,” Hogan explained. “When the pool was provided to us, we picked the team we thought was best, and it was Georgia Tech.”
Ratings, Matchups, and the Future
The numbers back up the buzz. Last year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl drew 6.8 million viewers - the game’s highest total since 2008. And with ranked teams and strong records on both sides, Hogan believes the games are hitting a new level of relevance.
“The marketplace is forcing the industry back to a place where high-quality games with winning records and ranked teams are all you are going to sustain,” Hogan said. “There’s going to be a bubble - and we hope our game is the one the country looks at and says, ‘Look at how they played.
Maybe we got that one wrong.’ That’s a sweet spot for us.”
Even without Notre Dame, this year’s matchups are loaded. Georgia Tech and BYU both flirted with the CFP conversation, and the quarterback talent is worth the price of admission alone. You’ve got Haynes King for Tech, Bear Bachmeier for BYU, Arch Manning suiting up for Texas, and Bryce Underwood leading Michigan.
“To have those four guys - four of the highest-quality QBs - and we’re going to see some football outside of the playoff,” Hogan said. “That’s exciting.”
Orlando’s Bigger Ambitions
Looking ahead, Hogan has his eyes on more than just viral moments and strong viewership. If the College Football Playoff expands and opens up bidding for hosting early-round games, Orlando wants in.
“We are always open, ready, and willing to be a part of the best opportunities available for our city,” Hogan said. “Should they ever competitively bid playoff rounds, we want to be a major player there.
We believe the quality of our games has been first-round level. The ratings have substantiated that.”
For now, Orlando is setting the tone for what bowl season can be - a celebration of college football that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivers serious competition. And if that means a few edible mascots and toaster trophies along the way? So be it.
Because in a postseason landscape that’s constantly evolving, the Pop-Tarts and Cheez-It Citrus Bowls have found a way to stand out - and fans are loving every minute of it.