We Ranked Every College Football Bowl Game Mascot: Where Does Pop-Tarts Bowl Rank?

It's the greatest time of the year for college football sickos, and what's bowl season without its zaniness? And what's more zany than a brand sponsoring a bowl and creating a character to be the face of said bowl? NOTHING. And that's why I've come up with the definitive college football bowl mascot rankings - starting with an edible fan favorite.

🎭 College football bowl mascot rankings: Top 10

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No. 1 - The edible Pop-Tarts mascots (Pop-Tarts Bowl)

Just when you think the Pop-Tarts Bowl has done it all, like sacrifice a Pop-Tart mascot to a gargantuan toaster for the winners of the game to eat, the good folks at Pop-Tarts take it up a notch.

From its humble beginnings in 2023, when it sacrificed just one Pop-Tart (our sweet, sweet Strawberry) to the toaster gods, to last year when it broke out Team Sprinkles and Team Swirls for the first time, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has set the standard for what a bowl game can be when those in charge lean into the chaos and fun of bowl season.

This year, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has stepped it up again in the mascot department by adding new flavors to captain Team Sprinkles and Team Swirls. Leading the way for Team Sprinkles is Protein Slammin' Strawberry, who might be the most jacked mascot in the history of bowl games. Captaining Team Swirls is Frosted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, who, after a three-year hiatus from the shelves, has said it's ready to lead its team to "Mouth Heaven."

Overall, there are SIX edible Pop-Tart mascots this year, on top of the first-ever mascot cam that will be live on the Pop-Tarts Bowl TikTok channel. The Pop-Tarts Bowl has also said that this year it will be "delivering its wildest experience yet" and there will be the "biggest sacrifice ever."

No. 2 - Spuddy Buddy (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)

It used to be that Spuddy Buddy was unquestionably the best in the bowl mascot game, but then the new generation came along, and Pop-Tarts, Duke's Mayo, and Cheez-It finally gave the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl some serious competition. But you can't deny that Spuddy Buddy has GOAT status at this point - I mean, Spuddy's more than a decade older than I am, after being brought to life by the Idaho Potato Commission in 1983. 

While Spuddy Buddy may not have the same zany antics as Tubby or the showmanship of Ched-Z, Spuddy Buddy has a warmth that no other mascot in the bowl business has. Spuddy is like an old friend who will always be there to put a smile on your face when you need it most, a true buddy. Spuddy Buddy has even been carried off the field by the winning team on more than one occasion, and not in a fake way like Rudy was at Notre Dame.

Heck, Spuddy Buddy's bowl game was even dumping food on the winning coach way before the Duke's Mayo Bowl existed, with the fry bath setting the standard for what a Gatorade shower could be if you dare to push boundaries. 

No. 3 - Tubby (Duke's Mayo Bowl)

In 2021, everything changed. All it took was mayonnaise with a little "twang" to it, and a pair of coaches who recognized you don't always need to take yourself so seriously. When the clocks hit zero, and South Carolina defeated North Carolina four years ago, Shane Beamer's destiny came to fruition. He sat in that chair and took the first-ever mayo bath. (I still don't respect him for wearing a hat.)

But there lies the problem for Tubby. He's an elite bowl game mascot, competing with his own damn bowl game to get the attention he deserves. With that said, last year was a monumental moment when a celebrity took the mantle of Tubby and shifted the trajectory of the Duke's Mayo Bowl forever. It wasn't revealed until just before the mayo bath that none other than Flavor Flav donned Tubby's legendary suit.

That led to an all-time mayo bath for Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck, and one of the greatest moments in recent bowl game memory. Tubby is a titan of the industry, spreading joy everywhere he goes, and I have it on good authority that he may be joined by an additional mayo-related character this year. Stay tuned.

No. 4 - Prince Cheddward & Ched-Z (Citrus Bowl)

The prodigal son has returned, and he's descending from the skies as the prophecy foretold! Prince Cheddward has reclaimed his throne atop the Cheez-It empire after a brief retirement following the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl, which then became the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

With Cheez-It shifting sponsorship to the Citrus Bowl, it introduced a new character known as Ched-Z, a mysterious fellow who doesn't possess the same royal bloodlines as Prince Cheddward, but has a swagger you just can't teach. However, according to the lore, Ched-Z realized the Cheez-It kingdom needed its prince back and went in search of its ruler.

This year, for the first time, the two will be on the bowl stage side by side. And while Cheez-It claims "Daddy's home," I'm hesitant to move the pair higher. I just don't want to be hurt again as a long-time Prince Cheddward follower who was scarred when he walked off into the great unknown last time.

No. 5 - Obie the Orange (Orange Bowl)

I have respect for an OG like Obie, but I won't push back on those arguing that this ranking is a little inflated, considering what the Orange Bowl star is bringing to the table this late into a career spanning decades. Still, Obie has survived longer than any mascot, dating back to 1969, and you have to give kudos to the Orange Bowl for keeping ol' Obie around.

Obie also gets a major bump for being a bowl mascot in a major bowl game, with the Peach Bowl being the only other College Football Playoff bowl with a mascot (Huddles). Heavy is the head that wears the crown, so Obie's professionalism on a grand stage is key to other CFP games implementing mascots.

No. 6 - Cure Bear (Cure Bowl)

This is a controversial take, I know that, and I don't care. Cure Bear simply doesn't get enough respect. I don't know what it is that has folks sleeping on him, probably his uncomfortably long neck, but no mascot is fighting for a more important cause than CB - the nickname Cure Bear's closest friends use.

An 8-foot-2 bear whose favorite movies are “Brother Bear”, “Jungle Book”, and “Winnie the Pooh," and favorite songs are "On My Way" and "The Bear Necessities," is a bear worth fighting for in my book. (I need you to know that I don't just know those facts; they're on the Cure Bowl website.)

No. 7 - Bowl Dog (68 Ventures Bowl)

It's quite simple really: if the edible Pop-Tarts mascots are chaotic good and Spuddy Buddy is lawful good, Bowl Dog is chaotic evil. Bowl Dog is not to be trusted, and you can see why just by staring into those unhinged eyes.

Even still, there's a place in the bowl mascot world for chaotic evil, and you have to give props to 68 Ventures, whatever that is, for letting Bowl Dog be so involved on social media. Bowl Dog runs this town (Mobile, Ala.) after all.

No. 8 - Billy Bayshore (Gasparilla Bowl)

Whether a pirate's life is for you or not, you have to admit that pirates make ideal mascots, even more so when tied to an area that not only has a pirate-themed NFL team (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) but a holy dang pirate parade. Yes, that's right, every January Tampa, Fla., hosts the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, and it's been going on since 1904.

The only downside here is that the Gasparilla Bowl doesn't feature pirate Jose Gaspar, aka Gasparilla, as its mascot. Instead, it has Billy Bayshore sailing around the field, creating all sorts of havoc. And while Bayshore is a nod to Gaspar and ties in well with the pirate theme of the Gasparilla Bowl, he would be far higher on this list if it were actually the pirate this whole bowl is named for.

No. 9 - Tony the Tiger (Sun Bowl)

Usually, I ding a bowl game that uses a pre-existing mascot that's just the sponsor's mascot and not an original idea. But Tony the Tiger is grrreat and Frosted Flakes are an S-tier cereal, so here we are with the T-man ranked top 10.

They say never meet your heroes, but everyone who meets Tony during Sun Bowl week gets to see that this tiger is the epitome of positivity. He's not the only mascot during the Sun Bowl, either, with Amigo Man, El Paso's "sunniest ambassador," always in attendance.

No. 10 - Snoop Dogg (Arizona Bowl)

Would you believe me if I told you there is no Arizona Bowl without the D.O. Double G? He may not technically be a mascot, but Snoop Dogg is the face of this bowl game, and the savior of it ... unlike some other celebrities who have had ties a certain bowl *cough* Rob Gronkowski (and Jimmy Kimmel) *cough* who are just going to let it die after this year (LA Bowl).

After multiple sponsors like NOVA Home Loans, Offerpad (what even is that?), and Barstool Sports, Snoop slapped his name on the Arizona Bowl. It's actually the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice, his and Dr. Dre's gin cocktail company. And you might be thinking, is Snoop really involved? Of course he is; that man loves ball.

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