It was Iowa State's first bowl victory since the 2020 season, when the Cyclones defeated Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. Saturday also marked Iowa State's fifth go-ahead drive in crunch time this season.

It's not every college football bowl game that features ritualistic sacrifice of a bowl game mascot after completion of the game. But then, not every team gets to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

“The No. 1 important rule is that football is not bigger than life,” Mayer told Raiders.com. “It isn't, and it never has been. I just needed to figure some things out. That's what I ...