Ranking all 16 Big 12 mascots from worst to first
Where does Chip the Buffalo fall?
When EA Sports' College Football returned in 2024, the development team announced that fan-favorite "Mascot Mashup" mode would not be returning for that entry into the series.
In response to losing a mode that players touched maybe once or twice, college football fans were... outraged. That's because, unlike any other sport in the United States, mascots matter to college sports, especially football. Every college football fan has a fantastic childhood memory and at least one photo with their school's mascot, they're key to the atmosphere of Saturdays.
Related: Ranking every Big 12 football stadium
The Big 12 features iconic mascots, with some being around for as long as the football team itself, and while they each carry their traditions, some miss the mark. So let's break into our off-season bag and rank all 16 Big 12 mascots from worst to first.
16. Willie Wildcat (Kansas State Wildcats)
As an alum of Wildcat high school, it pains me to rank Willie so low, but unfortunately, he makes me very uncomfortable. The Wildcat head is solid, the swoops from the logo are a nice touch, and letting him change his uniform with the team is fun. However, the lack of a full suit makes it difficult for me to support him and his weird proportions.
15. Brusier & Marigold (Baylor Bears)
As someone who was horrified by most mascots as a kid, I can empathize with all of the children who have nightmares of Baylor's Bruiser and Marigold. Mascots can look fierce, but they still have to look inviting. Bruiser looks like he wants to make me his lunch, not take a photo with him. Bonus points for having both a male and female option, which boosts Baylor over Kansas State.
14. Pistol Pete (Oklahoma State Cowboys)
The story behind Pistol Pete's look is fantastic, based on a real person named Frank B. Eaton's cowboy-esque adventure to avenge his father's death. However, I wish the look of Oklahoma State matched the intrigue of his backstory. The uncanny valley head is too much for me, despite a stellar look otherwise.
13. Cosmo the Cougar (BYU Cougars)
BYU's mascot is an interesting take on the very common Cougar nickname and has had a spectacular run of acrobatic stunts as of late. His impressive in-game antics boost Cosmo way up the list, and I do like the white gloves; they bring the look together. Unfortunately, he can't go any higher than No. 13 because his empty eyelids are actively trying to take my soul away from me the longer I look at him.
12. Super Frog (TCU Horned Frogs)
TCU is fighting an uphill battle, having to adapt a lizard to a human form, and they did a pretty fine job. The spikes near the hands are a nice touch, and like Kansas State, Super Frog will change his jersey alongside the team. Super Frog starts to lose me at the head. The eyes are much too close together, and the ruffles on his head make him look more alien than a horned frog.
11. The Bearcat (Cincinnati Bearcats)
Cincinnati's mascot does a much better job balancing a fierce look without looking like a ravenous animal. The red touches on his eyebrows, ears and nose are a fun touch that separates this look from the other animal mascots in the conference. The whiskers kind of look like a mustache, which negatively impacts the look to me. Let's get that fixed on the next edition of The Bearcat.
10. Swoop (Utah Utes)
Based on the regional red-tail hawk of Utah, Swoop gives me very mixed emotions. I love the tie to the region, and the head is an awesome look, but what are we doing with these arms? The half-fur and half-red athletic sleeve with some fur attached near the wrists is super awkward and hurts the look a lot. Swoop needs to decide if it's a hawk or a person, and until then, it'll stay at No. 10.
9. Shasta (Houston Cougars)
The better of the two cougar mascots in the conference, Houston's Shasta, is the first inviting mascot on this list. The full suit is a welcome change from the others on the list, and I appreciate the cuter take on the mascot. The look is more complete and put together compared to BYU, and the whiskers are a nice touch compared to Cincinnati. Doesn't stand out too much, and it doesn't scare children, that's the perfect middle-of-the-road mascot look.
8. Cy the Cardinal (Iowa State Cyclones)
It would be nearly impossible to replicate a Cyclone in mascot form, so instead, Iowa State opts for a cardinal who looks like they're up to no good. Cy's mischievous, full-toothed grin and commitment to being a bird are the primary reasons for their high ranking. Bonus points for the yellow legs, a fun detail to the look. Unfortunately, the back of their head gets a little wonky, and the eyes are off-putting enough to keep this Cardinal at eight.
7. Sparky the Sun Devil (Arizona State Sun Devils)
Sparky the Sun Devil rides a fine line between creepy and Sunday morning cartoon villains. I think he sticks the landing with the latter, bringing Arizona State's iconic look to life in a fun fashion. I've got to give Sparky his flowers for his post-scoring pushups, which match the total of ASU's total points in football games, a big risk in the Big 12. Never too far from his pitchfork, Sparky is a unique and fun mascot.
6. Wilbur & Wilma (Arizona Wildcats)
This dynamic duo of Wildcats has been married since 1986 when they were married on the field before the school's yearly matchup against Arizona State. Wilbur is always seen sporting his nifty sombrero, and Wilma has her bow, which gives a great deal of character to a very common mascot. It's a fun look with a surprisingly detailed backstory, which boosts the Arizona duo above their rival.
5. Mountaineer (West Virginia Mountaineers)
West Virginia's Mountaineer is exactly the way to do a human mascot, and the look is super fun. Adorned with his raccoon cap and musket, the Mountaineer is so unique and ties into the region perfectly. It's no mistake that the school has no shortage of finding someone to play the Mountaineer every year.
4. Raider Red (Texas Tech Red Raiders)
With a look harkening back to Looney Tunes' Yosemite Sam, Texas Tech's Raider Red clears any other cowboy mascot in the nation. The tradition of firing off two guns into the air after a Texas Tech score perfectly ties into the cartoon aesthetic and provides hype for the crowd. The oversized mustache and cartoon ears help Raider Red escape the uncanny valley and emerge as one of the best mascots in the Big 12.
3. Big Jay & Baby Jay (Kansas Jayhawks)
Kansas' Big Jay is one of the only mascots I know who has a child, and I have to pay my respects to a mascot parent-kid combo. That's no easy task, nor was nailing the cartoony look of the Jayhawk logo, but Kansas did just that. Compared to the school's early attempts to replicate the logo, this look is stellar.
2. Knightro (UCF Knights)
Unlike many teams on this list, UCF has the benefit of an easily adaptable and unique name, but the Knights still knock this mascot out of the park. The golden suit of armor looks stalwart and regal, but still inviting enough for a fun photo. While some might say the cape is overdoing it, I'd say they hate fun.
1. Chip (Colorado Buffaloes)
Chip is the perfect mascot to me, and there's no Colorado bias at play here. While Chip isn't exactly intimidating, it nails the look of a fluffy Buffalo with little horns and a welcoming smile. He brings a fun cartoony look that counter-balances perfectly to Ralphie on the sidelines. He's also a three-time national champion mascot and talented snowboarder; what can't he do?
Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
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