The Mascot Minute: This Week in Mascot News

STUFF Wins Mascot of the Year — Again — Orlando Magic mascot STUFF was named the 2026 NBA Mascot of the Year at the annual NBA Mascot Conference, an honor voted on entirely by his fellow mascots across the league. It’s his third career win (2016, 2017, and now 2026), making him the first mascot in NBA history to win the award in back-to-back years. STUFF debuted in 1989 and is entering his 38th season with the Magic — and this wasn’t his only trophy this year, as he also picked up the league’s Digital Content Award and Video of the Year Award for the 2025-26 season. Dynasty behavior, from a dragon.

Ralphie VII Breaks Loose — Colorado’s newest live bison mascot, a gift from the Beauprez family of Eagle’s Wing Ranch outside Steamboat Springs, delivered another electric sprint across Folsom Field, continuing one of college football’s most storied pregame traditions. Ralphie VII took over the role in 2025 following the retirement of Ralphie VI (“Ember”), whose handlers made the call to step her back from field duty when she showed a growing reluctance to run — a decision Colorado’s program has always framed as putting the animal’s well-being first, tradition or not. (Source: CU Buffs Athletics)

Poe Takes Flight in Baltimore — Ravens mascot Poe zip-lined from a light tower above M&T Bank Stadium down to the 50-yard line ahead of Baltimore’s home opener against the Saints — the debut moment of a brand-new pregame tradition the team is calling “The Uprising.” “We’re excited for fans to experience The Uprising for the first time,” said Ravens Senior VP of Marketing Brad Downs. The moment led into a full production featuring the Marching Ravens, cheerleaders, and all three Ravens mascots performing together for the first time — with NASA astronaut and Baltimore native Reid Wiseman on hand as the inaugural “Leader of the Uprising.” No elevator required, apparently.

A Bull, a Kiss, and a Very Surprised WWE Champion — Houston Texans mascot TORO left WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez in disbelief after planting a kiss on her during a meet-and-greet at the team’s Week 2 loss to the Bengals. Rodriguez, a Texas native, posted the moment to social media with the caption “I kissed a bull and I… Well he kissed me” — and fans had plenty of thoughts, including one who noted, “Lol TORO couldn’t resist. It was a one in a million shot and he took it.” Not every wrestling storyline starts at an NFL game, but here we are.

Salvador Perez Wins the Dance-Off — Royals catcher Salvador Perez went step-for-step with Orbit, the Houston Astros’ mascot, in a pregame dance battle that made the rounds on social media days later. Perez reportedly busted out a move Orbit wouldn’t even attempt — earning him the unofficial win and reminding everyone that after this many years in the league, few players still play the game with more pure joy.

Baylor’s Bears Get a Temporary New Home — Baylor’s live mascots, black bears Judge Indy and Judge Belle, are staying at an off-campus facility while their on-campus Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat undergoes a family-funded renovation. “It becomes this point of pride for campus,” said Dr. Austin Smith, Baylor’s associate director of student activities, noting only a couple dozen schools nationwide still run live mascot programs at this scale. The good news for fans: Baylor has already worked out a plan with the construction crew to bring the bears back on campus for Family Weekend and Homecoming.

Big Tex Rises Again — The 17-meter-tall icon of the State Fair of Texas was lifted back into place at Fair Park in Dallas ahead of this year’s fair — an annual ritual that’s become as much a sign of the season in Texas as the first cool front.

Meet Kiki — The Girl Scouts’ Fall Product Mascot officially has a name, chosen after more than 250 fans voted on their favorite option in an online poll.

A School Mascot Retires, With Care Taken — California’s Tomales Braves, whose mascot has long depicted a Native American figure in a feathered headband, is set to retire the design after an 18-month transition period under the state’s 2015 Racial Mascots Act — the latest school district to navigate this specific, community-sensitive change with input from tribal stakeholders.

MHOF in the Wild

A few nice sightings of our own Class of 2026 inductees out in the world this week:

• Mrs. Met, the Hall’s newest and first female inductee, appeared in Queens, where supporters braved the rain to celebrate her historic induction.
• Cocky joined the Mascot Hall of Fame Class of 2026 headlines again this week as South Carolina prepared to face rival Georgia — with “family ties set aside,” per SCNow’s framing of the matchup.
• Cosmo the Cougar kept up his usual highlight-reel energy on Instagram, reminding fans exactly why BYU’s mascot earned his spot in this year’s class.
• Miles, the Broncos’ mascot, got a fun-fact shoutout from a fan photo at Empower Field, noting his recent Hall of Fame induction.