2026 UCA Mascot Nationals

Event Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
Event Location: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida
Event: UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship
Divisions: Division IA Mascot and Open Mascot
Event Status: Completed

About the Event

The 2026 UCA College Mascot National Championship brought some of the nation's most recognizable collegiate mascots to Walt Disney World Resort for an exciting celebration of school spirit, creativity, and mascot performance.

Held during the UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship weekend, January 16–18, 2026, the mascot competition took place on Saturday, January 17, at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

Mascots from universities across the country performed routines designed to showcase their personalities, entertainment skills, athleticism, and dedication to representing their schools.

Participating Mascots

Division IA Mascot

• Hook 'Em — University of Texas
• Nittany Lion — Penn State University
• Boomer — University of Oklahoma
• Big Al — University of Alabama
• Bearcat — University of Cincinnati
• Bucky Badger — University of Wisconsin
• Brutus Buckeye — Ohio State University
• Aubie — Auburn University
• Smokey — University of Tennessee
• Goldy Gopher — University of Minnesota

Open Mascot

• Leo Lion — University of North Alabama
• Will D. Cat — Villanova University
• The Governor — Austin Peay State University
• Thunder — Grand Canyon University
• Wolfie Seawolf — Stony Brook University

2026 National Champions

Two mascots emerged as national champions following the competition.

Division IA Mascot National Champion: Brutus Buckeye — Ohio State University

Open Mascot National Champion: Thunder — Grand Canyon University

Both mascots earned national recognition for their championship performances.

Event Highlights

The competition featured entertaining routines from established collegiate mascot programs and rising competitors.

From the energetic performances of Brutus Buckeye and Goldy Gopher to Thunder's championship-winning Open Mascot routine, the 2026 competition highlighted the creativity and hard work behind collegiate mascot entertainment.

The event also provided fans with an opportunity to celebrate the performers who bring university traditions, school spirit, and athletic events to life.

Mascot Insider Coverage

Mascot Insider covered the 2026 UCA Mascot Nationals with championship results, competition highlights, and a recap of the participating mascots.

Read More: 2026 UCA Mascot Nationals: Full Results & Championship Recap

Additional photographs, performance videos, and historical coverage can be linked here as they become available.

About the UCA Mascot National Championship

The UCA Mascot National Championship is part of the annual collegiate cheerleading and dance national championship weekend. It recognizes mascot programs for their performance abilities, creativity, entertainment value, and representation of school spirit.

This event has concluded. This page is preserved as part of the Mascot Insider historical event archive.