Bowl Season Delivers Chaos, Comebacks, and Cannonballs: Saturday's Wildest Moments
Bowl games are supposed to be fun-a reward after a long, grinding season. And if Saturday’s slate was any indication, college football is leaning all the way into the chaos, the weirdness, and yes, the joy that makes bowl season such a unique slice of the sport. From Pop-Tarts flying through the air to grass clippings dumped on coaches, Saturday was a reminder that in the postseason, anything can happen-and often does.
Let’s break down the most memorable moments from a wild day of bowl action.
BYU Caps Season with Pop-Tarts Bowl Comeback
The Pop-Tarts Bowl has become the unofficial mascot of bowl season absurdity, but don’t let the edible pageantry fool you-this year’s edition delivered a legit football thriller. BYU, already with four comeback wins under its belt this season, added a fifth in dramatic fashion to finish with 12 victories.
Down 21-10 entering the fourth quarter against Georgia Tech, the Cougars turned to Bear Bachmeier, who muscled in a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to three. Then, with just two minutes left, BYU punched in a go-ahead touchdown.
But Georgia Tech’s Haynes King wasn’t done. On fourth-and-15, King hit on a 66-yard bomb to get the Yellow Jackets into the red zone.
He had one final shot at the end zone with time expiring-and for a second, it looked like he had it. But BYU’s defense came up with the interception to seal the win.
And then came the Pop-Tarts. Head coach Kalani Sitake celebrated like a man who just conquered the toaster aisle, inhaling a frosted pastry with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for championship trophies.
The game also featured the now-iconic Pop-Tarts mascot, who tossed pastries onto a grill while Slammin’ Strawberry-the official mascot-cannonballed into a toaster. No word on whether that was a subtle dig at Notre Dame, who opted out of the game, but the energy was unmistakable: this bowl game is here to entertain.
East Carolina Stuns Pitt in Military Bowl Upset
If you’re looking for the biggest shock of the day, look no further than the Military Bowl. Pitt entered as a 13.5-point favorite over East Carolina, but the Purple Pirates had zero interest in playing the underdog role.
East Carolina controlled most of the game and held off a late push to secure a 23-17 win. It's the biggest postseason upset for an ACC team in at least three decades.
Pitt struggled to find rhythm, and East Carolina made them pay for every mistake. This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement.
San Diego State Pulls Off the Ultimate Backdoor Cover
If you had San Diego State +7.5 in the New Mexico Bowl, you probably stopped watching early. North Texas was in full control, leading 42-20 at the start of the fourth quarter. But SDSU didn’t quit-and if you stuck around, you witnessed one of the wildest covers in recent memory.
The Aztecs scored four touchdowns in the fourth, including one with just one second left on the clock, cutting the final margin to 49-47. It didn’t change the outcome of the game, but it flipped the script for bettors everywhere. That’s bowl season magic (and madness) at its finest.
Missouri’s Season Ends with Familiar Frustration
Missouri came into bowl season with eight wins, but none of them were against teams with a winning record. That trend continued as they fell to Virginia, 13-7, in a physical, low-scoring slugfest.
With starting quarterback Beau Pribula in the transfer portal, the Tigers turned to true freshman Matt Zollers, who struggled to get the offense going. He finished just 12-of-22 for 101 yards and an interception. The game featured two missed field goals and fewer than 500 total yards combined-an old-school defensive grind.
The loss dropped Missouri to 0-5 against teams with winning records this season. Their eight wins came against opponents with a combined record of 30-67. For a team that looked promising at times, it’s a tough way to end the year.
Houston Rallies to Beat LSU in Texas Bowl
LSU came out swinging in the Texas Bowl, jumping to a 14-0 lead despite a depleted roster. But Houston, playing in front of a home-state crowd, found its rhythm and stormed back with three straight touchdowns.
LSU tied it up early in the fourth, but Houston quarterback Connor Weigman took over late, tossing four touchdowns in total to secure a 38-35 win. The victory gave head coach Willie Fritz a 10-win season at his fifth different school-a remarkable coaching milestone that speaks to his adaptability and success across programs.
Army Rolls as UConn Limps to the Finish
UConn’s bowl appearance came with a heavy dose of adversity. With head coach Jim Mora off to Colorado State and several key players opting out, the Huskies were overmatched against Army in the Fenway Bowl.
Army dominated from start to finish in a 41-16 rout. Head coach Jeff Monken didn’t seem thrilled about the traditional Powerade bath, but his team earned every drop. It was a fitting end to a game that never felt particularly close.
Grass Clippings and Grit: Penn State Wins Pinstripe Bowl
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl started the trend of quirky postgame celebrations, and now every sponsor wants in. After braving snowy conditions at Yankee Stadium, Penn State capped off a 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Interim head coach Terry Smith got the honor of a very unique celebration: instead of Gatorade or mayo, the team dumped coolers full of grass clippings-courtesy of Bad Boy Mowers-on him. It’s weird.
It’s wonderful. It’s bowl season.
Louisiana Tech Coach Takes a Taser Hit
Louisiana Tech doesn’t play in the Independence Bowl until Dec. 30, but head coach Sonny Cumbie already made headlines. In a moment that defies explanation but somehow feels right for this time of year, Cumbie agreed to get tased as part of the team’s bowl prep.
Yes, tased. And yes, he took it like a champ. If nothing else, he’s got his locker room’s attention.
Snoop Dogg Fields a Kickoff in His Own Bowl
The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl didn’t offer much in the way of offensive fireworks-Fresno State beat Miami 18-3-but it did give us one unforgettable highlight. Late in the game, a kickoff drifted toward the sideline… and Snoop Dogg, standing in the end zone, casually fielded it.
At 54 years old, the Doggfather still has hands. It wasn’t a touchdown, but it might’ve been the best catch of the day.
Bowl Season at Its Best (and Weirdest)
Saturday was everything we love about bowl season: last-minute heroics, shocking upsets, bizarre celebrations, and a reminder that college football is never afraid to get a little weird.
Whether it’s a coach getting tased, a Pop-Tart cannonball, or a 66-yard desperation heave that almost works, this is what makes the postseason special. And with more games still to come, the fun is far from over.