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Best of bowl season: Weddings, pretend punts, canine races and (in fact) Pop-Tarts

Best of bowl season: Weddings, pretend punts, canine races and (in fact) Pop-Tarts
Ella Bennet
Ella Bennet

  • Ryan McGee, ESPN Senior WriterJan 13, 2025, 08:00 AM ET

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    • Senior author for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com
    • 2-time Sports Emmy winner
    • 2010, 2014 NMPA Writer of the Year

Mid-January is at all times a interval of nice adjustment. That icy time once we hopefully have lastly began ending dates with ’25 as an alternative of ’24 and in addition lastly stopped awkwardly wishing individuals “Happy New Year” even when the yr is not all that new.

However, for school soccer followers, the doorway into 2025 has been extra of a problem than in years previous. Why? Because gone are the times when the nationwide champion was selected a single-digit January date. And as we formally start to look towards the first College Football Playoff title game on the tail finish of the inaugural 12-team bracket, let’s pause to have a look again. As we seize a Pop-Tart, warmth up a mug of Scooter’s Coffee, chill within the house we purchased by Union Home Mortgage and earlier than firing up our TaxSlayer app on our Cricket Wireless telephone, why not spend a second reminiscing in regards to the video games these sponsors proudly backed?

For as a lot as was made in regards to the new CFP overshadowing and overrunning bowl season, for all of the sky-is-falling fear about opt-outs and groups not desirous to make non-CFP postseason journeys, what we acquired was a month-long vacation present of gridiron greatness, goofiness and good occasions.

So, earlier than we develop into all-consumed with Notre Dame versus Ohio State for all the faculty soccer marbles, let’s make our annual journey by the Best of Bowl Season for 2024-25.

Best efficiency by a sport winner: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

McCord arrived on the Holiday Bowl because the nation’s main passer and he added to his Orange legend by throwing for 453 yards and 5 touchdowns towards Pac-2 rep Washington State. On Syracuse’s first play of the second half, he launched a 50-yard move to Darrell Gill Jr., who made an incredible over-the-shoulder snag, a play that pushed McCord previous Deshaun Watson because the ACC’s all-time single-season passing chief, ending with 4,779 yards — completed in 13 video games vs. Watson’s 15 in 2016. McCord is so superior that he has by no means been late to something, or not less than he has everybody satisfied he has by no means been late to something …

Best efficiency in a dropping effort: Demond Williams Jr., QB, Washington

The Huskies trailed Louisville by two touchdowns getting into the fourth quarter of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, however Williams threw two landing passes on UW’s remaining two drives, the second coming with solely 9 seconds remaining. Alas, his would-be game-winning 2-point conversion toss was batted down and Washington misplaced 35-34. Williams completed the day 26-of-32 passing for 374 yards and 4 TDs after getting into the sport with solely two profession TDs. He’s a freshman, so this may not be the final time you examine him.

Best bowl cut price: Free soccer

Four bowl video games reached extra time and every of these video games wasn’t determined within the first additional session. The headliner was the CFP Quarterfinal on the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the place Texas superior after outlasting Arizona State (and outsmarting focusing on guidelines). But there have been few four-day bowl season stretches extra superb than Dec. 23 to Dec. 26.

It began when Northern Illinois defeated Fresno State in double OT within the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. That was adopted 24 hours later by a Christmas Eve 5-OT Hawai’i Bowl victory for South Florida, which traveled 4,682 miles to play San José State. Then, after a day without work to let Santa do his factor, Toledo received a de facto house sport, Detroit’s GameAbove Sports Bowl (the artist previously often known as the Motor City Bowl), however wanted a bowl-record six overtimes to do it … after the staff stormed the sector pondering it had already received. Twice. Not unhealthy for a sport, performed subsequent door to the Detroit Tigers’ ballpark, that ended the primary quarter with a baseball rating (6-2).

Best bowl coaches: Special groups

From wacky kick return formations and abruptly numerous 2-point conversion playbooks to kickers trying passes and punters whipping underhanded shuttle shoves, as a particular groups coordinator texted me in mid-December: “All that stuff we spend all season training and attempting to persuade the pinnacle coach to do, he’ll lastly say sure within the bowl sport.”

Best nuptials: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Remember how horrifying the Red Wedding was in “Game of Thrones”? Well, think about if we changed all of the knives with foam headwear, changed the blood with soda and combined in a number of orange with all that pink. I used to be on the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to look at Illinois, South Carolina and, in fact, the antics of Ched-Z the Cheez-It. But even the mascot being launched by the uprights like a paper desktop soccer took a backseat to what occurred throughout a first-half TV timeout.

That’s when Erin Doolin and Erik Yakes have been wed in a “Two-Minute Drill” marital ceremony whereas using atop a trailer being towed across the taking part in area as Ched-Z and 47,129 followers served as witnesses. After exchanging orange rings, they spent the rest of the sport holding their reception with household and mates simply off a nook of one of many finish zones, full with a dance flooring and orange marriage ceremony cake.

Best postgame meals tub: Northern Illinois coach Thomas Hammock

Stuff dumped on the heads of coaches this winter included iced espresso, eggnog and Frosted Flakes. When you beat CFP finalist Notre Dame, win eight video games, earn your second consecutive bowl victory and get a bucket of fries dumped in your head on the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, you’ll be able to say no matter you need within the postgame interview.

Best movie star postgame meals tub: Duke’s Mayo Bowl, BOI!!!!

We’ve all grown to like the postgame dumping of mayonnaise on the successful coach’s head after the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, except you are Shane Beamer, who nonetheless is perhaps concussed from his celebratory second three years in the past. But even Minnesota’s coach P.J. Fleck, a person who by no means wants assist getting fired up, was despatched to a special degree of power when shock celeb Flava Flav emerged from behind the scenes to unleash this yr’s mayo mess.

Best movie star every little thing else: (Insert Famous Person) Bowl

Gronk hoisting wrestling belts. Matthew McConaughey carrying “Rusty,” his way-too-worn leather-based tassel jacket at Longhorns video games. Snoop Dogg not simply on the TV mic (“He stood over him as a result of it is enterprise he is standing on”) however along with his identify painted in large letters on the taking part in area. Who do these individuals suppose they’re, a Herbstreit canine?

Best canine movie star: Hudson the Bahamas Bowl Racer

OK, everyone knows that Ben and Peter Herbstreit have been the Tail-or Swifts of faculty soccer. And it was wonderful to see Myrtle Beach Bowl champs UTSA carry Fredo the Frenchie round like he was Sean Astin on the finish of “Rudy.” But Hudson the hound stole the present on the Bahamas Bowl when he raced a bunch of youngsters on the observe that surrounds the taking part in area the place Buffalo rolled over Liberty within the final non-CFP sport of bowl season.

Best new development: The decline in highest-profile opt-outs

When their common seasons ended, Beamer and Deion Sanders grinned by their disappointment at not being a part of the CFP and pledged that their stars and seniors can be on the sector for his or her bowl video games. Meanwhile, a number of gamers on different groups promised the identical, most notably at Ole Miss and Alabama. Were there nonetheless a number of opt-outs? Yes, most have been powered by the madness of getting switch portal deadlines in the course of the postseason. But with an adjustment to that timetable seemingly inevitable, in addition to contracts tied to income sharing, the hope is that extra groups will probably be loaded for future bowl appearances.

Worst development: Opting out midgame (bonus class)

I wanted to incorporate one “worst” on this record as a result of it is not proper to say the most effective development with out stating the worst. Miami mentioned the plan was to have Cam Ward sit out the rest of the Pop-Tarts Bowl as soon as he threw three landing passes to interrupt the NCAA profession file at 158. Do I feel it was the worst crime within the historical past of the game? Of course not. But the picture of the Heisman Trophy finalist standing on the sideline completely wholesome having achieved a person file and watching his staff lose to Iowa State by one level was a horrible search for Ward, Miami and school soccer.

Best development that digs on the worst development: Cal Band belief fall

“You cannot belief Fernando Mendoza [the Cal QB who transferred to Indiana]. But you’ll be able to belief the Cal Band to be there on the LA Bowl tonight.”

Best postgame shoutout: Kansas State Pride

Speaking of bands, how about Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman acknowledging the Okay-State Pride making the 20-hour bus experience to supply the soundtrack for the Wildcats’ win within the Rate Bowl (aka what was the Copper, Insight.com and Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl)!

Best pregame perk: Becoming Phil Knight

From NASCAR ride-alongs to present suites filled with tech and bling, there has by no means been a scarcity of enjoyable and free stuff for bowl members, however the Las Vegas Bowl stepped issues up. USC and Texas A&M gamers obtained to customized design their very own Nike Air Force 1s.

Best pregame transfer: Boston College honoring an Eagle hero

As quickly as BC coach Bill O’Brien knew his staff was going to New York for the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, he reached out to Alison Crowther, mom of BC alum Welles Crowther. Known by many because the Man within the Red Bandana, Welles was an equities dealer and a volunteer firefighter who helped first responders rescue victims of the 9/11 assaults on the World Trade Center earlier than dying when the towers collapsed. He saved as many as 18 individuals. Members of the BC soccer staff met Crowther’s mom on the 9/11 Memorial and Museum earlier than their sport towards Nebraska.

Best stadium function residing as much as its identify: Pesky’s Pole

Speaking of soccer performed in baseball stadiums, how two basketball colleges — North Carolina and UConn — playing football in a baseball stadium. And how in regards to the well-known Fenway Park right-field foul pole, named for Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, being … effectively … pesky?

Best wardrobe: Puffy pirate shirts

As Jerry Seinfeld will testify, it takes a sure degree of confidence to tug off a puffy shirt. Well, Andre Ware, who received a Heisman Trophy, and Anish Shroff, simply named North Carolina sportscaster of the yr, displayed that confidence within the broadcast sales space of the Gasparilla Bowl, which is known as for a Tampa Bay pirate ship and pageant. Whether they pulled it off is as much as you.

One Pop-Tart taunted the again choose. All the Pop-Tarts crashed the postgame area rush. Strawberry returned from the Great Toasted Beyond, coming out of the highest of the enormous finish zone scoreboard like Michael Jackson at halftime of Super Bowl XXVII on the Rose Bowl. Then, Cinnamon Roll made the last word sacrifice within the identify of soccer glory, being baked and devoured by Iowa State because the Cyclones hoisted their trophy, which can also be a working toaster. All of the above was framed by a particular NCAA-approved sideline that was painted to seem like it was lined in sprinkles. God bless America.

Best season: Bowl season

Always. See you subsequent yr.

Ella Bennet
Ella Bennet
Ella Bennet brings a fresh perspective to the world of journalism, combining her youthful energy with a keen eye for detail. Her passion for storytelling and commitment to delivering reliable information make her a trusted voice in the industry. Whether she’s unraveling complex issues or highlighting inspiring stories, her writing resonates with readers, drawing them in with clarity and depth.
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