Running off at the typewriter. …
College football bowl season is that magical time of year when we all collectively roll our eyes at “meaningless” games, then proceed to watch them like we suddenly have an intense interest in the no-name backup quarterback filling in for the starter who just entered the transfer portal.
And here in Orlando, the two crown jewels of this festive circus — the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and the Pop-Tarts Bowl — proved that nobody does the spectacle quite like we do. Somehow, someway, we’ve managed to turn two snack-food bowls into must-see TV.
Sure, pundits and Twitter philosophers love to portray bowl games as irrelevant relics of the past that nobody cares about anymore. However, the TV numbers beg to differ. Across 33 non-College Football Playoff games, viewership jumped 13% year-over-year. In other words, the nation collectively shrugged, rolled its eyes, and then tuned in anyway.
Leading the Orlando charge, the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl staged a battle between Michigan and Texas that drew 9.1 million viewers — a figure that matched most of the games in last year’s NBA Finals. Not far behind, the Pop-Tarts Bowl saw BYU hold off Georgia Tech before, presumably, licking the edible mascot with all the reverence it deserves. That game pulled in 8.7 million viewers, proving that even when the stakes are supposedly microscopic, Americans will stop everything to watch teams in pastel-colored uniforms play for a toaster-pastry trophy.
That popping sound you just heard on Jan. 1 was ESPN execs uncorking champagne bottles in a windowless conference room somewhere.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is dunked in Cheez-Its after winning the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl game of Michigan vs. Texas at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Dec. 31, 2025. Texas won the game 41-27. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
It’s the ultimate paradox: we decry bowl games as trivial, yet we watch them en masse. And for networks like ESPN, the data doesn’t lie. Eleven non-CFP bowl games hit five-year highs, which means bowl games are quietly reminding the world that “meaningless” doesn’t mean “unwatched.” Actual attendance may be dwindling, but ratings are rising.
So go ahead and mock the bowls and insist they’re frivolous. But when Cheez-Its and Pop-Tarts lit up TV screens nationally during the holidays, just remember: Orlando knew what it was doing all along – and so did 18 million of our closest, unapologetically entertained friends …
Short stuff: Speaking of Orlando sporting events, kudos to Florida Citrus Sports and other civic leaders for securing three of international soccer’s top men’s national teams as a lead-up to this summer’s World Cup. Camping World Stadium will host Colombia vs. Croatia on March 26, and Croatia vs. Brazil on March 31 as part of the “Road to 26” slate that also includes exhibitions near Boston and Washington, D.C., in early spring. Because of our growing reputation as an international soccer hotbed, maybe Orlando needs to change its nickname from “The City Beautiful” to “The City of the Beautiful Game.” … I’m not saying the College Football Playoff has gotten lost in the NFL shuffle, but what major sporting event plays its semifinal games on Thursday and Friday nights? Coming soon: The Oscars on Tuesday afternoon! … And speaking of the idiots who run college football, the sport had one-fourth of its playoff coaches accepting other jobs before the playoffs even began, and has the transfer portal opening before the playoffs even come to an end. What other sport has its postseason double as a job fair? …
James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III (14) celebrates after a touchdown against Troy during the first half of the Sun Belt championship NCAA college football game, on Dec. 5, 2025, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. (Robert Simmons/Associated Press)
Remember when the Orlando Magic used to play defense like the ‘85 Bears? These days, they’ve been playing defense like the Venezuelan Air Force. … Did you see where Jadan Baugh is returning to the University of Florida after entering the transfer portal, starting a bidding war with Texas and then returning to the Gators for about $1.5 million this season? NIL = Name, Image and Leverage. … Meanwhile, Washington quarterback Demond Williams said on social media earlier this week he is entering the transfer portal – a move that comes just days after he agreed to return to the Huskies for the 2026 season. Williams reportedly signed a contract to return to the Huskies last week, and now Washington is reportedly prepared to pursue all legal avenues to enforce Williams’ signed contract. Hey, nothing says amateur athletics like breach-of-contract lawyers!!! … And speaking of players jumping from school to school, UCF reeled in James Madison QB Alonza Barnett from the portal. It seems only fitting since President James Madison himself was a big believer in free movement and limited restrictions. …
Can you believe Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young actually wanted to be traded to the hapless Washington Wizards? In a league where most stars chase championships, Young just asked to be placed in a witness protection program. If I’m the Wizards, I don’t know if I want a player who wants to play for me. Sort of like the old Groucho Marx line: “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” …NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps resigned earlier this week after text messages made public during a court battle with Michael Jordan’s race team revealed that Phelps called Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.” I guess you could say this is yet another highlight-reel moment for M.J. …
Mikey likes: Jaguars over Bills by 4 in Upset Special, Rams over Panthers by 10, Bears over Packers by 2, 49ers over Eagles by 1 in Upset Special II, Chargers over Patriots by 3 in Upset Special III, Pittsburgh over Houston by 5 in Upset Special IV, U.S. Army Special Ops over Venezuelan Air Force by 24 (Venezuelan planes still on the runway.)
Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on social media @BianchiWrites and listen to my new radio show “Game On” every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen