There’s something wonderfully surreal about a giant nut becoming one of college football’s most endearing mascots—but that’s Ohio State. From rowdy games at the Horseshoe to timeless turns in parades and TV commercials, Brutus Buckeye has evolved from an offbeat notion to a full-fledged Big Ten legend.
He doesn’t have the tiger’s claws or the Spartan’s muscles, but Brutus has school spirit in spades. And who would have thought that his transformation from papier mache to pop culture phenomenon is a storybook?
What Is the Ohio State Buckeyes Mascot?
The official mascot of Ohio State University is Brutus Buckeye. He’s a walking, smiling buckeye nut with a stick-limbed body and a lot of attitude. He’s not only a symbol of athletic pride—he’s the face of Buckeye Nation.
Brutus was conceived 1965 when two students, Ray Bourhis and Sally Huber, suggested that Ohio State must have a mascot to compete with other prominent college programs. Their first concept wasn’t a nut but a buck deer named “Buckeyeman.” However, the university already identified its athletic persona with the buckeye tree, the Ohio State tree, and, more symbolically, the buckeye nut. So, the students became innovative.
Brutus first appeared on Oct. 30, 1965, at the Homecoming game versus Minnesota. The original Brutus was a big papier-mâpapier-mâchéhead that covered a plain bodysuit. Although the appearance was certainly more do-it-yourself than dashing, the fans adored him. Before long, Brutus was a fixture at games and campus functions.
Over the decades, Brutus has seen numerous redesigns—some more flattering than others. The most dramatic overhaul came in 1981 when Brutus was given a friendlier face and a more athletic build. Today’s version wears the iconic scarlet-and-gray, wears a red baseball cap, and proudly sports the “Brutus” name across his chest.
His personality? Outgoing, cheeky, and fiercely loyal to the Buckeyes. You’ll see him crowd-surfing in the student section, challenging rival mascots to dance-offs, and showing off his push-up skills after every Ohio State touchdown.
As Brutus’ official bio once cheekily said, “I’m a nut. What’s your excuse?”
Why Was the Ohio State Buckeyes Mascot?
In contrast to some mascots selected simply to intimidate, Brutus was conceived of tradition and a dash of Ohio pride. The Buckeye is a state tree, a symbol of Ohio heritage, and locals commonly call it the Buckeyes. That identity is deep-seated.
When Ray Bourhis and Sally Huber first proposed the mascot in the mid-’60s, they realized that the school had to have some visual symbol for its athletic teams. Ohio State’s sports teams were becoming prominent, and the students felt a mascot would tie the fans together. But a deer just wasn’t what they had in mind. The administration concurred—Ohio wasn’t about deer; it was about buckeyes.
Thus, the name Brutus Buckeye was born—a mix of strength and state pride. Introducing Brutus gave it a tough edge, including Buckeye retaining things. As mentioned in a 2005 Columbus Dispatch article, the students manually constructed the initial head using chicken wire and paper-paper-mâchéwn paint in a hasty rush prior to the game.
Although Brutus was almost phased out in the early years because of logistical issues (that heavy head wasn’t easy to lug around), fans and students united to keep him in the fold. The OSU cheerleaders, especially, assisted Brutus in his transformation and stayed an integral part of the game-day atmosphere.
Brutus became so popular that the university developed a Brutus Crew of students who share the costume and handle the mascot’s itinerary. Being Brutus is not all about school spirit—it’s a highly sought-after job that involves a tryout, a fitness assessment, and even choreography ability.
Brutus isn’t a campus hero; he’s a national star. He’s starred in ESPN advertisements and Rose Parades and even participated in Capital One’s Mascot Challenge. In 2007, he was enshrined in the Mascot Hall of Fame, becoming a college sports royalty.
Brutus Buckeye began life as a lowly papier-mâpapier-mâché; now, he’s the beating heart of Ohio State allegiance. He’s living proof that a mascot doesn’t have to roar or soar to get a crowd going—occasionally, a nut in a red tracksuit with a smile is enough to get thousands of fans on their feet.
More than a costume, Brutus symbolizes decades of athletic victories, student tradition, and school spirit. He’s danced before millions, assisted in energizing the crowd through nail-biting finishes, and even got hit by a wayward Michigan fan in 2006—and lived to tell about it.
KEEP READING: History of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Mascot
With each high-five, dance step, and leap to the sidelines, Brutus Buckeye reminds fans of what it takes to be a Buckeye: proud, passionate, and just a little crazy.
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