College athletics is surrounded by a lot of spectacles, including pregame traditions, stunning campuses, and imposing stadiums. The mascots, though, are among their most appealing features in my opinion. It’s what gets the crowd excited for the game!
These mascots frequently perform push-ups, hang out with the cheerleaders, and offer entertainment during games. To me, it’s kind of exciting to see our team’s mascot hype the crowd up. Even when it’s a bad game, I can rely on the team mascot to cheer us up.
Whether they’re lighting up the crowds, playing in the band, or just doing things throughout the games to keep the kids engaged, these mascots become an integral part of a college’s character.
There are several iconic mascots that take part in game day celebrations around the nation, and these are the top 10 NCAA mascots according to BetUS.
1. Raider Red, Texas Tech
View this post on Instagram
Like many collegiate teams, Texas Tech has a costumed mascot in addition to a real animal mascot. When the Southwest Conference’s rules were altered to prohibit visiting football teams from bringing live animal mascots to away games, Raider Red was born.
According to Texas Tech history, “Red is a public relations mascot who shakes hands with the crowds at athletic events and poses for pictures.” He even fires two shotguns into the air after every touchdown or field goal! I want to see that!
2. The Oregon Duck, University of Oregon
View this post on Instagram
It comes as no surprise that the Oregon Duck was inspired by Walt Disney’s Donald Duck. The sailor suit and the viral videos are what do it for me! Every time UO makes a touchdown or field goal, the Duck is renowned for performing pushups. When the Ducks defeated New Mexico 72-0 in 2010, he performed 506 times, which is the most ever!
3. Nittany Lion, Penn State University
View this post on Instagram
The Lion mascot is now everywhere on campus for sports, charities, and other events that elicit the chant “WE ARE PENN STATE!.” Today, he assists the cheerleaders in energizing the audience, performs pushups following each goal, and enables himself to be transferred hand-by-hand up through the bleachers while being passed over the heads of the spectators. While I personally think this one’s a bit creepy, according to NCAA news, one of the most well-known collegiate athletics mascots in the nation is the Nittany Lion.
4. Mike The Tiger, LSU
View this post on Instagram
Now this one’s an interesting one. A live mascot! Most fans are unaware that LSU maintains a real tiger habitat outside Tiger Stadium, where a real tiger lives. Many fans have only ever seen the cartoon version of Mike the Tiger. Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever see the real Mike out on the football field because, I mean, a dangerous cat on the football field would be pretty damn dangerous. But all in all, the cat is a loved campus staple.
5. Tree, Stanford University
View this post on Instagram
This comedic picture is one of many from Stanford’s The Tree’s Instagram. Stanford’s athletic programs are named “Cardinals” which is a bright red color and as a result, it is quite challenging to personify something in any way using a mascot. While Stanford doesn’t have an official mascot, the Stanford Tree was named the unofficial mascot in 1975 after it became Stanford’s Band Mascot. Uniquely enough, the tree also changes its ‘costume’ every year. The student that gets to wear it during that year is allowed to create it!
6. Bevo, University of Texas
View this post on Instagram
This one’s a cool one! Nothing compares to Bevo, the burnt orange longhorn steer who is one of the school’s most iconic characters and one of the country’s most adored mascots. Watch this funny (but scary) moment during the 2019 Sugar Bowl where Bevo goes to charge at Uga, the University of Georgia’s now former Bulldog mascot.
One year ago today, Bevo had the audacity to go after Uga 😮 pic.twitter.com/U4czUR2zxz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2020
Luckily no one was hurt, but it was just Bevo showing us not to mess with him or his team!
7. Leprechaun, Notre Dame
View this post on Instagram
According to college football news, the Fighting Irish had the second-highest winning percentage of all time last year, and with that came the iconic celebration dance of the leprechaun. While you may never be able to see an actual leprechaun like the ones that wait at the end of a rainbow with a pot of gold, you can imagine how one might be thanks to Notre Dame.
8. Smokey, University of Tennessee
View this post on Instagram
Another live mascot! Smokey X, the current mascot, was unveiled in 2018. Although some college football mascots may be more well-known, the good boy is regarded like royalty, and you won’t find a more gorgeous animal than the hound dog, whose howl can be heard when the Marching Band’s music ends. So cute!
9. Horned Frog, TCU
View this post on Instagram
The Texas horned lizard, scientifically known as phrynosoma cornutum, is the official reptile mascot of TCU. This lizard became TCU’s official mascot because of how common it is to see it in Texas. As simple and sweet as that. The name was allegedly chosen for the yearbook after a bunch of “horny toads” turned up during the team’s first practice, according to legend. Officials at the school claimed that while choosing the outfit, they wanted “a mascot the crowd could laugh with instead of laugh at.”
10. Uga, University of Georgia
View this post on Instagram
Look at that cute face! I’ve always liked when schools have live mascots so I couldn’t miss this one. Apart from having an adorable face he also takes his new job pretty seriously. The University of Georgia’s cuddly pride and joy—and one of the most recognizable college football mascots in the country—is Uga, who has a significant place in Bulldogs history. In 2019 he was even named the #1 college football mascot by Sports Illustrated! And we’ll tell you more about him very soon!
