A Clash of Titans: Iowa State and Miami Battle in the Pop-Tarts Bowl
The Iowa State football team wrapped up their 2024 season against the Miami Hurricanes in the highly anticipated Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
With the Cyclones coming in ranked 18th and the Hurricanes 13th, both teams entered the matchup boasting impressive records of 10-3 and 10-2, respectively.
Notably, Iowa State just missed a slot in the College Football Playoff after suffering a defeat to Arizona State in the Big 12 Conference title game. On the flip side, Miami missed out on the ACC title game following a loss to Syracuse in their final regular-season game.
Excitingly, both teams featured star seniors opting to play instead of preparing for the NFL Draft. Miami quarterback and Heisman finalist Cam Ward, alongside Iowa State’s standout receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, showcased their skills in this thrilling bowl game.
Kickoff commenced at 2:30 p.m. central time at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, with the game broadcast live on ABC.
Live updates were provided, featuring in-game analysis and play-by-play highlights throughout the thrilling affair:
Touchdown Iowa State! On a pivotal fourth-and-1 play, quarterback Rocco Becht dove in for what could be the game-winning touchdown with only 56 seconds remaining, giving Iowa State a 42-41 lead.
CYCLONES SNEAK IT IN 🙌🔥 @CycloneFB takes the lead with less than a minute left to play pic.twitter.com/rIdXOSQoQ0
– FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 29, 2024
Key plays on the drive: Becht made an impressive 29-yard pass to Noel on third-and-1. The Cyclones then executed a strong drive, covering 84 yards in 15 plays within five minutes.
Defensive Highlights
Not to be overlooked, the ISU defense put forth a strong performance, successfully forcing crucial stops to keep the game competitive while Miami maintained a narrow lead.
Injury Updates
As the thrilling game progressed, Miami’s standout running back Damien Martinez left with an injury, but not before racking up impressive stats.
Final Thoughts
The Pop-Tarts Bowl was nothing short of exhilarating and served as a testament to the resilience and talent of both teams as they closed out their season in an unforgettable manner.
