Ohio State’s Iconic Buckeye
Scarlet and Gray Spirit Since 1965
Columbus, OH · Various Sports
★Mascot Hall of Fame — Class of 2007
| Team / Organization | Ohio State University |
|---|---|
| Location | Columbus, OH |
| League / Division | NCAA (Big Ten) |
| First Debuted | October 30, 1965 (Homecoming game vs. Minnesota, Ohio Stadium) |
| Species / Type | Buckeye nut (anthropomorphic) |
| Best Known For | Iconic buckeye-head design; ESPN’s This Is SportsCenter appearances; 2015 UCA Mascot National Championship |
| Year Inducted | 2007 |
Profile
Brutus Buckeye was born from student ingenuity in 1965, when two Ohio State undergrads hand-built a papier-mâché buckeye head and walked it into Ohio Stadium in front of 84,000 fans. Six decades later, he’s one of the most photographed college mascots in America. Brutus celebrated his 60th birthday in October 2025 by helping set a Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously wearing conical party hats.
Fun Facts
- The original Brutus head cost $50 and was built at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house using papier-mâché — not exactly Disney-level production values, but 84,000 fans didn’t seem to mind.
- Brutus’s name was chosen via a campus-wide contest in November 1965; the winning suggestion came from student Kerry J. Reed — combining toughness with state pride.
- Brutus has appeared in multiple ESPN This Is SportsCenter commercials, including a famous bit performing aerobics with Richard Simmons — which may be the greatest crossover in mascot history.
