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NCAA Tournament Bans Popular Mascot From First Round Game

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 12:03 PM ET

Unfortunately, one of the most adorable mascots in college basketball won't be present for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

On Thursday night, Drake will take on Missouri in the West Region. This is the third year in a row the Bulldogs have made the NCAA Tournament. They dominated the Missouri Valley Conference, owning a 30-3 record through the regular season and conference tournament.

While there'll be plenty of fan support for Drake this Thursday, its live mascot won't be in attendance at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

Griff II, an English bulldog, has been Drake's mascot since July 2020. Even though he's beloved in the college basketball world, the NCAA won't allow him to watch this Thursday's first-round game.

As of right now, the NCAA only allows live mascots at the Final Four.

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 09: The Drake mascot gets a championship hat after the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament between the Bradley Braves and the Drake Bulldogs on March 09, 2025, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Drake fans aren't happy about this decision, which is why they created a petition for live mascots to be allowed at NCAA Tournament games.

"The NCAA only allows live mascots at the Final Four, barring them from earlier rounds of March Madness. This outdated rule prevents beloved mascots like Griff, Drake University’s live bulldog, from being in the arena to support his team," the petition states. "It’s time to change this rule and let live mascots be part of the tournament from the start.

"Griff isn’t just a mascot—he’s an essential part of Drake’s identity. The team is 9-0 when Griff is in attendance at Arch Madness, proving that his presence makes an impact. Fans love him, players feed off his energy, and TV cameras can’t get enough of him."

Unless the NCAA changes its rules, Drake will need to make the Final Four in order for fans to get a look at Griff II.

Maybe, just maybe, the Bulldogs will go on a Cinderella run this tournament.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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