Colorado Buffaloes mascot, Ralphie VI, retires – traditional buffalo run at football games put on hold
Aug 26, 2025, 4:19 PM | Updated: Aug 27, 2025, 12:53 pm
One of the greatest spectacles in all of college football is watching a real-life buffalo run full speed across the field at Colorado Buffaloes games in Boulder. Sadly, that tradition will be put on hold.
Due to what CU called an “indifference to running,” Colorado’s most recent live mascot, Ralphie VI, is retiring and transitioning to a “companion buffalo role” with Ralphie V on their ranch.
A succession plan for Ralphie VII has been underway for several months and training has begun for the next Ralphie, but no timetable is given for the exact return of the iconic live mascot as “top prioritization is given to the buffalo’s health, well-being, happiness and safety,” meaning until the new buffalo is ready, there will be no running of the buffalo at CU games.
Ralphie VI (25 games from 2021-24) had by far the shortest tenure of any previous live buffalo.
CU kicks off their season against Georgia Tech on Friday (Aug. 29, 6 p.m., ESPN) at Folsom Field.
