Animal rights group PETA has asked the SEC to stop the University of Texas from bringing its live mascot, Bevo XV the longhorn, to the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday. Texas is set to play Ohio State in Arlington with a spot in the College Football Playoff national championship game at stake.

To get fans excited, the university plans to have Bevo XV appear at AT&T Stadium. However, PETA has written an open letter to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, expressing concern and urging him to reconsider the plan.

“PETA was highly concerned to see that Bevo would be attending the Cotton Bowl Classic,” the letter states. “After being banned from the SEC Championship game in December and the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day because of safety and sideline space issues, it is wildly irresponsible to allow him to attend the Cotton Bowl Classic. We urge you to bar this senseless and dangerous stunt.”

The letter argues that Bevo belongs in a peaceful environment with his herd, not in a loud, crowded stadium that could cause him stress and potentially lead to accidents, like the time he charged the University of Georgia’s mascot, Uga, at the 2019 Sugar Bowl.

PETA has been actively voicing its concerns about the use of live animals in college football, previously protesting a live Bengal tiger appearance on the LSU sideline during a game against Alabama—a stunt that went on with Louisiana .gov Jeff Landry’s support.

“The public increasingly opposes using live animals as ‘spectacles’ at sporting events,” stated PETA in a letter, referencing the LSU incident which led to student government opposition and a unanimous resolution for a ban on live tigers.

Texas has used live mascots since 1916 ( 

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(Image: Getty))

Drawing on examples such as the Dallas Cowboys, who favor human mascots like Rowdy over live animals due to the risks and distress involved, PETA urged reconsideration of Bevo XV’s presence: “Please consider the fear and stress Bevo will no doubt experience on Friday and the danger you put all players, staff, cheerleaders, media, and fans in by allowing a 1,700-pound longhorn steer on the sidelines.”

Texas has featured live mascots named Bevo for over a century, with Bevo XV currently making appearances in an enclosed pen at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. As of now, both Texas and the SEC have yet to reply to PETA’s concerns.

Texas (13-2) is heading into Friday’s College Football Playoff semifinal as a six-point underdog, facing off against a surging Ohio State (12-2) team that has already defeated Tennessee and No. 1 Oregon in their path to the playoffs.