Football

11 Best Mascots in College Football, Ranked

Richard Janvrin Jul 30, 2025, 12:39 PM
min read
The Oregon Duck reacts after an Oregon touchdown against Washington during the first half of an NCAA college football game.
(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
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  • The Duck for the Oregon Ducks began as a handshake agreement with Disney to allow them to use Donald Duck as the mascot.
  • The Big Red mascot for Western Kentucky was created in 1979 after a student sketched out a red blob that could be built for $300.
  • Uga is a real-life bulldog mascot for the Georgia Bulldogs and was first used in 1956.

While a college football mascot doesn’t necessarily impact NCAAF odds directly, they are a symbol for the team that can help get the crowd going at key points in a game, be it a 3rd down stop, red-zone attempt, or the opening kickoff. 

Below, I’ll rank the top 11 mascots in college football today. 

11 Best Mascots in College Football, Ranked

RankMascot NameSchool
1The DuckOregon Ducks
2Monte on a HarleyMontana Grizzlies
3UgaGeorgia Bulldogs
4Mike the TigerLSU Tigers
5Bucky BadgerWisconsin Badgers
6Brutus BuckeyeOhio State Buckeyes
7The Stanford TreeStanford Cardinal
8Big RedWestern Kentucky Hilltoppers
9CockySouth Carolina Gamecocks
10Keggy the KegDartmouth Big Green
11The Notre Dame LeprechaunNotre Dame Fighting Irish

Greatest College Football Mascots

1. The Duck: Oregon Ducks

The Duck is one of the most recognizable mascots in college football history. If you think the mascot has a Disney feeling to it, that’s good insight. 

The university and Disney had a handshake agreement through 1947 to allow them to use Donald Duck as the mascot. It was formalized in 1973. Then, in 2010, Disney allowed for the “Oregon Duck” to be separated from Donald’s likeness. 

The mascot gets involved in hilarious situations with fans, opposing mascots, and performs fun stunts.

2. Monte on a Harley: Montana Grizzlies

Monte, a grizzly bear, is often spotted riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, sometimes adorned with a red, white, and blue bandana and a leather jacket. 

Debuting in 1993, Monte is one of the coolest mascots there is. 

3. Uga: Georgia Bulldogs

It’s a real bulldog. It was first seen in 1956 and was enshrined in the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2022. 

I have a soft spot for real animal mascots, especially dogs, what can I say?

4. Mike the Tiger: LSU Tigers

The Tigers’ mascot is Mike the Tiger. There’s both a live and a costumed version.

The living version was first seen in 1936. Since then, there have been seven “Mikes.” The current one, Mike VII, has been the mascot since 2017. 

5. Bucky Badger: Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin used to use a real badger, but unfortunately, a real badger can be a bit tough to control. Thus, a badger outfit was created. 

That mascot gets the crowd hyped up and does pushups every time the Badgers score. 

6. Brutus Buckeye: Ohio State Buckeyes

A giant tree nut, Brutus Buckeye, made his first appearance in 1965 and has consistently been a symbol for one of the most successful college football programs. 

He’s made countless appearances, including doing aerobics with Richard Simmons, in a commercial for Home Depot where the mascot was strapped to the back of a truck, and more. 

The mascot itself may not be the most unique, but its longevity and the school it represents play a massive role in its ranking here.

7. The Stanford Tree: Stanford Cardinal

Of all the mascots on this list, none is more odd of a choice for a mascot than The Stanford Tree. For that reason, it’s a controversial choice, but to me, it stands out, which makes it one of the best. 

I mean, come on, the mascot looks ridiculous, and it certainly stands out from the rest. 

8. Big Red: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

In 1979, a Western Kentucky student, Ralph Carey, was tasked with coming up with a mascot. He sketched out a red blob that could be made for a measly $300. 

It looks like a cross between a McDonald’s and Chuck E. Cheese character. 

The eyes of the mascot are so iconic that there are helmet variants featuring them.

Here’s a fun fact: Big Red won the Universal Cheerleading Association’s Key to Spirit award in 1980, 1981, and 1983. 

9. Cocky: South Carolina Gamecocks

Cocky represents a cartoon version of a gamecock. Every game, equipped with his bouncy head and massive feet, he rides into the stadium on a train that pulls a red caboose. The caboose pays homage to the “Cockaboose,” which are the luxury boxes outside of the stadium. It also escorts celebrity alums. 

In 2019, Cocky was named one of the college football mascots in history by Sports Illustrated.

10. Keggy the Keg: Dartmouth Big Green

After dropping the symbol and nickname “Indians,” the team became the Big Green. In 2003, a humour magazine on campus developed Keggy the Keg. 

It rose to prominence in the early days of the internet, and there’s something funny about his unofficial mascot being a beer keg for an Ivy League program. 

11. The Notre Dame Leprechaun: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This one just makes too much sense. It’s a Leprechaun for the Fighting Irish. The mascot used to be for shorter folks with red hair and a chinstrap beard, but today, that’s no longer a requirement. 

The person looking to become the leprechaun must survive the spring tryout: Notre Dame trivia, 50 pushups, and an Irish jig. 

What’s the Best College Football Mascot of All Time?

Any time you pick something like the best college football mascot of all time, this is all based on personal opinion. 

To me, when I think of college football, The Duck from the University of Oregon always comes to mind. 

It’s appeared in many commercials, is involved in numerous skits, performs stunts, and has an anthropomorphic personality unlike any other. 

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