10 Top Dogs of College Football, from Blitz to Uga
This year, college football has gone to the dogs.
This college football season is already full of surprises, but we know one thing for sure: college football has gone to the dogs! Every week, while we take in the exciting matchups on the field, we can't help but be on the lookout for the four-legged stars of the sport. And while golden retriever Peter Herbstreit has undeniable main character energy, there are plenty of mascots holding their own on the sidelines week after week.
Some teams have had official canine mascots for decades (see University of Georgia's Uga), while others have dogs who serve in a less official capacity (Juice seems to be around to make mischief). Huskies and bulldogs are the most popular breeds for mascots, but there are some surprises on the list too. On the next commercial break, peruse our list of the best dogs of college football and let us know if we left your favorite off the list! (And cat lovers, don't worry. We've a surprise if you keep scrolling.)
Peter Herbstreit, ESPN
Peter is an equal-opportunity football fan who attends games with his owner/sportscaster Kirk. He's following in his big brother Ben's footsteps by tagging along to College Game Day and jet-setting to locations nationwide for games (both college and NFL).
Juice, Ole Miss
Juice Kiffin is a bit of a rascal. He once stole Tim Tebow's mic on a live TV broadcast, but has also had the important job of retrieving the tee after Ole Miss kickoffs. The yellow Lab (and unofficial mascot) belongs to Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and his family.
Uga XI "Boom," University of Georgia
Among college football mascots, Uga is in a league of his own. The English bulldog has been a staple on the field since 1956 and now has a custom jersey and air-conditioned doghouse on the sideline. On warm days, you'll see him relaxing atop a bag of ice to keep cool. Uga XI is the current mascot, but his friends call him "Boom."
Smokey XI, University of Tennessee
The Vols mascot is a regal Bluetick Coonhound (the official dog breed of Tennessee). You can see him decked out in Tennessee orange and running through the T before games. The team has said that he's still acclimating to his role and his activities will be limited.
Dubs II, University of Washington
The University of Washington claims the Huskies as their mascot, but their four-legged pup is an Alaskan Malamute. The university chose a malamute "because it is the largest and strongest of all Husky breeds." Dubs II has been in action since 2018.
Reveille X, Texas A&M
Reveille X took over as mascot in 2021. The First Lady of Aggieland is a rough collie and the highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets. According to Texas A&M rules, if Miss Rev falls asleep on a cadet's bed, the cadet must find somewhere else to sleep.
Blitz, Boise State
Boise State's official mascot is the bronco, but that's a bit harder to wrangle on the field. But the team has a live animal on the field thanks to Blitz, a black Lab who retrieves the kickoff tees during football games and bats for the Boise Hawks baseball team. He follows in the footsteps of his dad, the beloved Cowboy Kohl.
Handsome Dan XIX, Yale
Let's hear it for the Ivy League! Yale has a stately Olde English Bulldogge, who has been in action since 2021. The university adopted the bulldog as its mascot in 1890 and is recognized as having the first live animal collegiate mascot.
Jonathan XV, University of Connecticut
UConn's long line of huskies are all named after the state's first governor, Jonathan Trumbull. Jonathan XV took over duties in 2024 after his predecessor served for 10 years. His distinctive mask closely matches the school's logo.
Butler Blue IV, Butler University
The Indianapolis university has been known as the Bulldogs since 1919 but only brought on a live mascot in 2000. The current English bulldog, Blue IV, was born in 2019.
Bonus: Pudge the Cat, Bowling Green State University
Yes, he's a cat, but we simply cannot leave Pudge off this list. The shorthair Persian has taken the sport (and the internet) by storm since his owner, long snapper George Carlson, brought him to the locker room to lift a teammate's spirits. Now, he can be seen traveling around campus and to cheer on his team from a backpack.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
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