Miami will play its bowl game in Orlando for the third time in the last eight seasons when it plays Iowa State in the Pop Tarts Bowl on December 28 with a 3:30 PM kickoff. Miami lost to Oklahoma State when in the 2020 Cheeze-It Bowl and won the 2016 Champs Sports Bowl over West Virginia.
Iowa State lost 45-19 to Arizona State in the Big XII Championship Game in Arlington, Texas on Saturday. Miami finished 13th in the final 2024 College Football Playoff rankings and Iowa State is 18th. Iowa State is 10-3 and finished 1-1 versus ranked teams in 2024.
Iowa State won 20-19 at 21st ranked Iowa in week two before the loss to Arizona State who is 12th in the final 2024 CFP. Miami has never played Iowa State. Miami has not won a bowl game since the 2016 Champs Sports Bowl win over West Virginia. Mario Cristobal is 3-4 in bowl games and 0-1 with Miami.
The biggest question for Iowa State and Miami will be which players will be available. Quarterback Cam Ward who is expected to be a Heisman Trophy finalist on Saturday is expected to be the biggest question mark for the Pop Tarts Bowl. As a projected high first-round 2025 NFL Draft pick it would be surprising if Ward plays.
NEXT STOP: ORLANDO 🙌
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) December 8, 2024
The Canes will take on Iowa State on December 28th in the @PopTartsBowl
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Miami has a 20-23 bowl record. Miami has lost 11 of its last 12 bowl games. Iowa State is 5-13 in bowl games. Iowa State's last bowl win was 34-17 over Oregon in the 2021 Fiesta Bowl. That was the last bowl game Mario Cristobal coached in at Oregon. Iowa State is 1-4 in its last four bowl games.
Iowa State and Miami were both trending for College Football Playoff berths throughout the 2024 season. Although the rosters will likely be different in Orlando, Iowa State and Miami both have an opportunity to end their season with a win and build momentum for 2024 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.