The Weekender: Comebacks, Controversy, and College Football Chaos
The Pop-Tarts Bowl Delivered the Sugar and the Shock
If you tuned into the Pop-Tarts Bowl expecting a quirky sideshow, you got that - and then some. But beneath the edible mascots and toaster-shaped trophies was a football game that delivered real drama.
No. 12 BYU stormed back from a 21-10 fourth-quarter deficit to stun No.
22 Georgia Tech, 25-21, in a game that had all the ingredients of a classic - late-game heroics, a breakout performance from a freshman quarterback, and yes, a head coach taking a celebratory bite out of a human-sized Pop-Tart.
Let’s start with the on-field fireworks. True freshman Bear Bachmeier looked nothing like a quarterback making just his first bowl appearance.
The BYU signal-caller was poised and efficient, completing 27 of 38 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown. That stat line was enough to earn him Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP honors - and likely a permanent spot in BYU lore.
The Cougars were down double digits heading into the final frame, but Bachmeier led the charge with a series of sharp throws and clutch conversions. BYU’s defense, which had struggled to contain Georgia Tech’s tempo for much of the night, came alive late, forcing key stops to set up the comeback.
And then came the celebration - part surreal, part sweet. As confetti rained down, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake leaned into the moment, literally, by taking a bite out of one of the life-sized Pop-Tarts that had been dumped on him. It was a fitting end to what’s become college football’s quirkiest - and somehow most beloved - postseason tradition.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl may call itself “The People’s National Championship” with tongue planted firmly in cheek, but for BYU, Saturday’s win felt like a crowning moment.
Baylor Adds a Big Body - and a Big Talking Point
Christmas came early for Baylor basketball - and maybe a bit of controversy with it.
The Bears landed 7-foot center James Nnaji, a former second-round NBA Draft pick, who is now immediately eligible to play for the 2025-26 season. That’s a major addition for a team with postseason aspirations, but it’s also the latest flashpoint in the ongoing evolution - or revolution - of college basketball eligibility.
Nnaji was drafted 31st overall in 2023 by the Detroit Pistons, though his rights bounced around, landing most recently with the New York Knicks. Rather than come stateside, the 21-year-old Nigerian big man spent time developing with FC Barcelona in Europe. His minutes were limited - just 8.3 per game - but he made the most of them, shooting nearly 65% from the field.
Now, he’s taking his talents to Waco. And not everyone’s thrilled about it.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo didn’t hold back when asked about Nnaji’s eligibility, calling out the NCAA - and, by extension, the direction of the sport. “Now we’re taking guys that were drafted in the NBA?”
Izzo said, before sarcastically inviting Michigan State alums Magic Johnson and Gary Harris to suit up. His frustration was clear: the rules are changing, and not everyone’s on board.
Whether you see Nnaji’s move as a loophole or a legitimate second chance, there’s no denying the impact he could have for Baylor. A 7-footer with pro experience doesn’t come around often in the college game - especially not midway through the season.
Texas Star RB Quintrevion Wisner Enters the Portal
The transfer portal continues to reshape college football, and this time, it’s Texas feeling the ripple effects.
Star running back Quintrevion Wisner - the Longhorns’ leading rusher in both 2024 and 2025 - is on the move. Wisner announced his intention to enter the portal when it opens on January 2, joining a growing list of Texas backs looking for new homes. CJ Baxter, Jerrick Gibson, and Rickey Stewart Jr. have also entered the portal, signaling a full-on reset in the Longhorns’ running back room.
Wisner was a key piece in Texas’ 2024 College Football Playoff run, racking up over 1,000 rushing yards and six total touchdowns. He was a workhorse in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State, contributing both on the ground and through the air with 88 all-purpose yards.
In 2025, injuries slowed him down, beginning with a tough season opener - again against Ohio State - where he still managed 80 yards on 16 carries before going down. Despite missing three games, he finished the year with 597 yards and three touchdowns, showing flashes of the explosiveness that made him such a threat.
Now, he’s looking for a fresh start, and given his résumé, he won’t be short on suitors.
Ryan Day Reclaims the Reins as Play Caller for Buckeyes
As Ohio State gears up for its biggest game of the season, head coach Ryan Day is stepping back into a familiar role - primary play caller.
After delegating much of the offensive duties to coordinator Brian Hartline during the regular season, Day will retake the headset for the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff run. It’s a move that signals urgency and trust in his own ability to guide the offense in high-stakes moments.
The Buckeyes are set to face Miami in the Cotton Bowl - a matchup that echoes the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State ended Miami’s dominant run and captured a national title. This time, the stakes are similar: a spot in the College Football Playoff Semifinal is on the line, and both teams are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.
For Ohio State, the return of Day’s play-calling could be the X-factor. He’s been here before. He knows what these moments demand.
What’s Next
From edible mascots to elite transfers, college sports never seem to take a breath - and neither do we. With the College Football Playoff heating up and the transfer portal wide open, expect more shakeups, more surprises, and plenty more to talk about in the group chat.
Stay tuned.