Cheez-It Bowl mascot Ched-Z flashes ‘non-edible’ sign after its Pop-Tart counterpart was devoured by victorious Kansas State players in a bizarre scene only days earlier

A non-edible mascot, called Ched-Z, stole the show before the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl game between Iowa and Tennessee, just days after the first edible one of its kind was unveiled at the ‘Pop Tarts Bowl.’

The Cheez-It mascot came out of a huge box of the snack on New Year’s in Orlando, Florida, as ‘Party Up’ by DMX played, hyping the crowd. 

Ched-Z was later spotted getting a massage on the sideline during the Volunteers’ annihilation of the Hawkeyes, 35-0, and head-butting players postgame.

At the end of the game, when celebrating his team’s victory, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was poured on with the cheese snack, instead of Gatorade.  

Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava impressed in Monday’s game, running for three touchdowns and throw for one in his first career start, as he stepped in for senior Joe Milton, who opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL draft.

Ched-Z made it clear to fans and players that he isn’t edible, unlike its the Pop-Tart mascot

The Pop Tart mascot went viral after players ate it after Kansas State-North Carolina State

The 19-year-old threw for 151 yards, and his 27 rushing yards included three scores. 

He was eventually named the Citrus Bowl MVP for his high-level performance. 

Dylan Sampson rushed 20 times for 133 yards for Tennessee (9-4), and the Vols’ defense did the rest against an Iowa offense that came in averaging 16.6 points per game and 238.8 yards. 

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson (2) celebrates with the edible Pop-Tarts mascot

The Hawkeyes (10-4) were blanked in consecutive games to close the season after falling 26-0 to No. 1 Michigan in the Big Ten championship game. 

Iowa’s defense gave up more than 20 points for the third time this season — all of them in shutout losses. 

The shutout was the largest in Citrus Bowl history. 

East Carolina beat Maine 31-0 in 1965, when the game was known as the Tangerine Bowl.