Key Highlights
- | Scott G Winterton, Deseret NewsLottie Elizabeth JohnsonMon, December 29, 2025 at 5:43 AM UTC·4 min readMaybe it was the adrenaline rush from a thrilling come-from-behind win.
- Or maybe Kalani Sitake just really likes Pop-Tarts. Whatever the reason, shortly after No.
- 12 BYU beat No.
- 22 Georgia Tech 25-21 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl — a game that came down to the wire — the Cougars’ head coach removed a Pop-Tart from the functional football-shaped toaster trophy and devoured it. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn one second. The impressive feat has gone viral.“We should all attack every aspect of our lives the way Kalani Sitake attacks a Pop-Tart,” ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee shared in a post on X that has over 35,000 views. One video of the moment, shared by Front Office Sports on X, has racked up more than 370,000 views. Sitake’s speedy Pop-Tart consumption has also drawn comparisons to competitive eating legend Joey Chesnut — and even caught the attention of the formidable 17-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion himself. Kalani Sitake goes ‘Joey Chestnut-mode’ on Pop-TartThe Chestnut comparisons came quickly. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Kalani Sitake went Joey Chestnut style on this pop-tart,” Bleacher Report captioned a TikTok video.“BYU coach Kalani Sitake went Joey Chestnut-mode on the trophy Pop Tarts!” The Athletic similarly shared on X.“If he’s not in the Nathans hot dog contest next year we have failed as a nation,” one X user wrote on Front Office Sports’ post of the viral moment.“He Chestnutted that thing,” another X user wrote in response to the post. But 247 Sports’ Jeff Hansen, who retweeted a video of Sitake in all of his Pop-Tart-eating glory, actually got a response from Chestnut.“Will @joeyjaws come to BYU this offseason?" Hansen wrote on X, tagging Chestnut in the post. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementChestnut — who has actually consumed 100 Pop-Tarts in roughly 30 minutes — didn’t answer the question.
- But he did praise Sitake’s feat.“The man is a beast!” Chestnut replied to Hansen’s post.