Cosmo the Cougar has officially joined a pretty exclusive club.
BYU’s long-running mascot, known for viral stunts and crowd-pleasing dance routines, was selected for the Mascot Hall of Fame’s 2026 induction class. He got in through a process that blended public voting with ballots from the hall’s executive committee, and the vote reached fans in 109 countries.
Cosmo was inducted alongside Cocky of the University of South Carolina, Miles of the Denver Broncos, Goldy Gopher of the University of Minnesota and Mrs. Met of the New York Mets.
The selection process started with fan nominations, then the executive committee narrowed the field before it went to the public. To qualify, mascots had to have existed for more than 10 years, maintain a strong presence in their community and sports scene, and consistently deliver memorable in-game entertainment.
Mrs. Met’s induction carries its own milestone. With more than 21 years of existence, she becomes the first female mascot in the hall, and the Mets are now the first professional sports organization to have two mascots enshrined.
For some fans, Cosmo’s selection felt overdue. Jake Hatch of “Locked On Cougars” recently shared a message he received from BYU alumnus Rex Billings, who wrote, “I recently learned that Cosmo is being considered for the induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame,” and added, “I thought surely Cosmo would already be in.”
That reaction tracks with how widely Cosmo is seen around BYU athletics. He’s become a regular source of buzz, often pushing stunts so far that the university turns down plenty of his ideas. On Friday morning, he joined the Utah Jazz Bear, who was inducted in 2006, as the only two mascots from Utah to earn the honor.
Hatch also pointed to the atmosphere around BYU games, saying a Utah friend of his described it this way: “they keep you engaged from kickoff till the final whistle sounds, and even after that,” he said. “What Cosmo does in particular brings a lot of energy and a lot of juice to BYU athletics and their sporting events.”
And if the wait bothered Cosmo, he didn’t show it. An Instagram video suggested otherwise.
BYU’s men’s basketball team also jumped in to help the campaign, leaning into a “High School Musical”-style push. Several players, including Rob Wright and Khadim Mboup, wore shirts in the basketball annex that spelled out “Vote 4 Mo.”
For BYU fans, though, the case for Cosmo has never really needed much explaining. His stunts, dances and assorted game-day antics have long been part of the show.
In Other News...
BYU Basketball Finally Added A Frontcourt Piece Fans Needed
BYUs frontcourt outlook for the future got a boost with the addition of a seasoned international big man, as the Cougars officially added a 6-foot-9 center to the roster for the 2026-27 season. The new piece brings a pro background overseas, having already played in the Polish Basketball League and EuroCup, while also representing the Polish National Team.
For a program that has been looking to add size and experience up front, it is the kind of move that fits a longer-term plan rather than an immediate patch. BYU has been earning attention on the football side too, with LJ Martin landing preseason All-America recognition and Walker Lyons drawing early award buzz, but the basketball programs latest addition gives fans something to circle for the next wave of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is Taking A Risk At Receiver After Key Losses
BYUs receiver room is headed into 2026 with a different look after the departures of Parker Kingston and Cody Hagen, and the staff did not try to patch the hole by adding another wideout. Instead, the Cougars brought in backup quarterback John Sanders and running back Journee Tonga, while offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick has pointed to the receivers already in the program and the extra help available at tight end as reasons for optimism.
The burden now shifts to a group that includes JoJo Phillips, Kyler Kasper and freshman Legend Glasker, along with Reggie Frischknecht and Tiger Bachmeier, to make the passing game work without much outside reinforcement. BYU has also added Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga at tight end, giving Roderick more options in the middle of the field, but the real question is whether the current receiver mix can hold up after the roster choices left the position without the obvious safety net of another addition. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Could Be In Line For A Frontcourt Boost Fans Want
BYUs frontcourt wishlist could get a little more interesting if Jaxon Kohler decides to keep playing college basketball. The Michigan State forward, who has already spent four seasons with the Spartans, is exploring a path to another year of eligibility, and that has put a handful of major programs on alert, including BYU, Kansas and Kentucky, with a return to East Lansing still in the mix.
For the Cougars, Kohler would bring a veteran presence and the kind of interior help fans have been hoping to see as rosters keep shifting. The catch is that the whole picture depends on whether he is actually able to secure another season for 2026-27, which leaves BYU in the same holding pattern as the rest of the interested schools while the next step in his college career sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]