Ralphie’s Return: Newest CU Buffs live mascot will make debut vs. Wyoming

Ralphie is back.

Just like it should be, as Colorado gets set to take on Front Range rival Wyoming for the first time in 16 years, the Buffaloes will come out of the tunnel behind the newest version of the program’s live mascot.

Ralphie VII, which has yet to be given a nickname, will make her debut on Saturday night (8:15 p.m. ESPN) in front of a sold-out Folsom Field crowd in Boulder.

“Ralphie’s run is iconic and our fans, students, faculty, staff, and alumni take an incredible amount of pride in this tradition which transcends sports,” said Taylor Stratton, Director of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program, in a release. “We’re excited to be adding a new Ralphie to the lineage of incredible buffalo that have represented the University of Colorado and have elevated the fans’ passion for our student-athletes.”

Ralphie VII is a 1-year-old, 700-pound American Bison and is a gift from the Beauprez Family, multigenerational University of Colorado alumni and owners of Eagle’s Wing Ranch outside of Steamboat Springs.

In this image provided by the University of Colorado Athletics, a CU logo is displayed on the the harness of Colorado’s new mascot Ralphie VII, a 1-year-old yet-to-be-named bison, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. (CU Athletics via AP)

She replaces Ralphie VI, who retired earlier this year due to what the university called an “indifference to running.” Her four-season tenure was by far the shortest of any of the previous live mascots, and she has since joined Ralphie V on a ranch.

The university has been preparing Ralphie VII for months and announced before the start of the season that she would not make her debut in front of Buff Nation until she was ready. However, tradition returns after just two games, and the Buffs say she is “definitely not indifferent to running.”

As is tradition, Ralphie VII will be given her nickname by her handlers after her first run.

“Tradition. You can’t fake it. You can’t buy it. You have to build it. You have to earn it,” former Buffs linebacker Chad Brown said in a video posted by CU. “We have a tradition like no other. We have Ralphie. She’s more than a mascot. She’s a symbol of strength, an unyielding spirit — and now, she leads us into the future. The tradition continues. So, run, Ralphie, run.”


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