Texas’ iconic live mascot, Bevo XV, won’t be making the trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game against Georgia on Saturday. The reason? There isn’t enough space on the sidelines at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fit his enclosure safely.

A Longhorn with a Big Presence

Bevo XV, the 1,700-pound longhorn steer with a horn span of 58 inches, has been the official Texas mascot since September 2016. While his absence isn’t connected to his famous 2019 incident with Georgia’s mascot Uga, it’s a practical decision due to safety and space constraints.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) explained the decision, saying:

“The reality is there is limited sideline space at the stadium. We can’t jeopardize the safety of Bevo or the game participants. With the narrow sidelines, location of multiple sets for television and camera carts, there is not enough space.”

Essentially, the stadium’s sidelines are just too crowded with cameras, equipment, and limited room to safely accommodate Bevo’s enclosure.

The 2019 Mascot Scare That Made Headlines

Bevo and Uga became famous in 2019 when Bevo almost ran over Uga during a photo op before the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Though the two mascots created a bit of drama that day, this isn’t the reason for Bevo’s absence this weekend.

Interestingly, Georgia’s current mascot, Uga’s son “Boom,” didn’t make the trip to Austin in their Week 8 matchup against Texas earlier this year because his owner didn’t feel he was ready for the flight.

Controversy in Texas vs. Georgia Matchup

The regular-season game between the two teams wasn’t without its own share of drama. Texas fans caused a delay in the game by throwing debris onto the field, leading officials to overturn a pass interference call that had upheld a Texas interception. Georgia ultimately won the game 30-15.

The SEC fined Texas $250,000 over the incident and instructed the university to identify and ban fans responsible for throwing debris from attending future athletic events for the 2024-25 academic year. However, the school has so far been unable to identify anyone involved.

A Big Game Ahead

The SEC Championship game kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, with the winner earning a first-round bye in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff format. While Bevo won’t be there to cheer the team on from the sidelines, the game promises to be intense as Texas and Georgia go head-to-head once again.

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