Ranking the best live mascots in the SEC

Ranking the best live mascots in the SEC

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Ranking the best live mascots in the SEC

The SEC is home to 10 live mascots after welcoming Oklahoma and Texas to the conference in 2024. The conference has some of the most unique traditions and best mascots in all of sports.

Four dog mascots represent the most popular type of live mascot in the SEC. The SEC has three teams (Auburn, Missouri and LSU) with Tiger mascots, but LSU is the only one with a live Tiger mascot.

Across the conference, most programs established traditions with mascots long ago, but some mascots are more recent. The most memorable mascot moments in SEC history have to be when Texas mascot Bevo attempted to gore Uga at the Sugar Bowl and when Uga lunged and tried to bite Auburn receiver Robert Baker in 1996.

Ranking the best live mascots in the SEC

10. Sooner Schooner, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners Schooner horse drawn Conestoga wagon on the field during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide

Someone had to be last. Sooner Schooner is a tongue-twister and started in 1964. The Sooner Schooner became Oklahoma's official mascot in 1980. We like the tradition of the Sooner Schooner and like the horses, but respect is earned in the SEC and we haven't quite warmed up to it yet. Oklahoma's mascot memorably tumbled over in 2019.

9. Sir Big Spur, South Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks live mascot Sir Big Spur rests on the sideline

Sir Big Spur made his debut in 1999 and attends more than just home football games, which is a nice bonus. We are currently on Sir Big Spur VII, who is Old English Black Breasted Red Fighting Gamecock. Sir Big Spur will appear at events around South Carolina for $500 to $1,000 for 90 minutes.

8. Tusk, Arkansas

Arkansas Razorbacks mascot Tusk VI prior to the game against the UAB Blazers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Tusk VI attends every Arkansas football game throughout the year. Tusk I started in 1997, so Tusk is a pretty new tradition.

Tusk weighs approximately 350 pounds (we did not ask — that would be rude). Tusk enjoys a diet of grapes, apples, corn and watermelon. Not a bad mascot by any stretch. Tusk likes to play in mud holes on sunny days. Unfortunately for Arkansas football there have not been many sunny days recently.

7. Smokey, Tennessee

Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey at a game against the UTEP Miners at Neyland Stadium

A Bluetick Coonhound, Smokey has represented Tennessee since 1953. Smokey's a good dog, but wears a mighty ugly shade of orange. The Bluetick Coonhound became Tennessee's official dog breed in 2019.

6. Bully, Mississippi State

Mississippi State mascot Bully the Bulldog participates in the Dawg Walk

Dak, Bully XXII, is an English Bulldog and is the official Mississippi State mascot. Bully has more brown and less SEC championships than Georgia's mascot, Uga. Let's just say there's a better Bulldog out there.

Dak is still considered a Bully, according to Mississippi State. It is a bit confusing.

5. Reveille, Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M Aggies mascot Reveille before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks

Are we ranking Reveille over other dogs in the mascot rankings because Reveille looks very fluffy? Maybe. Reveille is known as the First Lady of Aggieland and Reveille X has been on mascot duty since 2021 after being born in Kansas.

4. Bevo, Texas

The Texas Longhorns mascot Bevo during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl.

Bevo is a Texas Longhorn and has attended Texas football games since 1966. He stars in commercials, but is well-known for attacking (or at least trying to attack) Uga during the the 2020 Sugar Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs. That is the sort of behavior that gets you docked in the live mascot rankings.

Bevo has a long tradition and first appeared at a Texas game in 1916. Bevo XV made his debut in 2016.

3. War Eagle, Auburn

Auburn War Eagle Aurea flies before the game as Auburn Tigers take on Mercer Bears at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn

Auburn's mascot War Eagle flies on to the field in one of the most unique traditions in all of college football. The Auburn Tigers have struggled on the field in recent years, but having cool traditions and a good atmosphere is not something Auburn struggles with.

2. Uga, Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs mascot, Uga

Of course we rank Uga as the best dog in our live mascot rankings. Uga is a good boy and is beloved by Georgia fans.

Uga is treated as well as any dog in the country. Uga is an English Bulldog that can often be found taking a snooze in his air conditioned dog house on a cold bag of ice. Uga I became the official mascot of the university in 1956 when Sonny Seiler brought his Bulldog to a game. Uga had a bit of a biting incident against Auburn back in the day, but that is all part of Uga's mystique.

1. Mike the Tiger, LSU

LSU Tigers live mascot Mike the Tiger in his cage as sleet falls covering the area in ice prior to tipoff of the LSU Tigers vs Kentucky Wildcats game.

Mike the Tiger is a Bengal Tiger that lives between Tiger Stadium and Pete Maravich Assembly. He lives in a 15,000-square foot environment that includes an oak tree, a waterfall and stream.

He's the only living tiger on a college campus and weights between 320-450 pounds. He eats 20 pounds per day of a carnivore diet and 140 pounds weekly.

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X, or Threads for more Georgia coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Ranking the best live mascots in the SEC

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos