In a matchup between coaching legends Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno, Florida State quarterback Casey Weldon completed 22-of-36 passes for 248 yards to lead the Seminoles to a 24-17 win over Penn State in the inaugural Blockbuster Bowl
Pittsburgh, making its first bowl trip since 1989, defeated NC State, 34-19, in the Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl in the game?s first installment in Orlando. Receiver Antonio Bryant caught seven passes for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Panthers and earn Most Valuable Player honors for the game.
The Florida State Seminoles rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 18-14, in the final edition of the Champs Sports Bowl. Following a fourth quarter interception by FSU linebacker Nigel Bradham, the Seminoles found the endzone in two plays as QB EJ Manuel completed the go-ahead touchdown pass to true freshman, and game MVP, Rashad Greene and erased a 14-0 deficit.
Despite being without its top two quarterbacks, top running back and award-winning wide receiver, Baylor exploded for a bowl-record 756 yards of total offense, shattering other numerous bowl records along their way to a 49-38 victory over North Carolina.
Florida State capped its return to national prominence with a thrilling 35-32 victory over Oklahoma in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl. The Seminoles erased an early deficit behind a dominant rushing performance and timely defensive stops, building a late lead before holding off a final Oklahoma drive. Quarterback Jordan Travis accounted for multiple touchdowns, and the win secured Florida State’s first double-digit win season since 2016 in one of the most exciting games in Cheez-It Bowl history.
The 2024 Pop‑Tarts Bowl emerged as one of the most significant games in the bowl’s long history, as Iowa State rallied past Miami and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Ward, 42‑41, to complete the best season in program history. The Cyclones not only secured 11 wins for the first time ever, breaking their previous school record, but did so in a dramatic back‑and‑forth contest that delivered one of the most memorable finishes in Orlando bowl lore. Beyond the on-field drama, the game added to the bowl’s growing mythology, from the iconic toasting of the edible Pop‑Tarts mascot to the playful fan rituals that have made the game a must-watch postseason spectacle.
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