The Cheez-It Bowl mascot comes out of his box before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Camping World Stadium. Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Late strawberry Pop-Tart has competition for wildest mascot entrance of bowl season

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/1/24

Four days ago, the Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot made a stunning entrance (and exit) into sports fans' lives.

On Monday, an oversized box of one of America's favorite gameday snacks made an equally impressive appearance at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

The Strawberry Pop Tart walked so the Cheez-It could run pic.twitter.com/pM5JTcux0f
— Will Boling (@will_boling) January 1, 2024

“Did we just become best friends?”

“YUP!” pic.twitter.com/FcmT9pZCkI
— Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (@CitrusBowl) January 1, 2024

"Ched-Z" will avoid the fate that awaited the strawberry Pop-Tart mascot at the end of last week's Kansas State win over North Carolina State. The victorious Wildcats chowed down on the edible toaster pastry breakfast treat, which was the first "edible mascot," after their win.

Ched-Z is back!

(and does not want to be eaten) pic.twitter.com/RBMKl8YoMg
— Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (@CitrusBowl) January 1, 2024

The 21st-ranked Tennessee Volunteers entered the fourth quarter of the New Year's Day matinee with a possibly insurmountable 21-0 lead over No. 17 Iowa. The Volunteers expanded their lead to 28-0 early in the fourth quarter via a 52-yard pick-six by defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. Tennessee then tacked on another TD to make it 35-0 late in the final quarter.

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava scored the team's other three touchdowns.

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