In the new age of college football with the 12-team playoff, there were concerns over whether the bowl games would still mean anything.

Iowa State and Miami weren’t far off from playing in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The Cyclones made it as far as the Big 12 championship, which they lost to Arizona State, while the Hurricanes missed out on a trip to the ACC game after losing to Syracuse in the regular-season finale.

But as the No. 13 Hurricanes (10-2) prepare to wrap up their 2024 season in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against the No. 18 Iowa State Cyclones (10-3) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC) at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, coach Mario Cristobal still senses a drive in his team to finish what it started and close the season on a high note.