SEC keeps Texas mascot Bevo from title game vs. Georgia - ESPN

While No. 2 Texas and No. 5 Georgia are preparing for a rematch in Saturday's SEC championship game, there's no such luck for another meeting between mascots Uga and Bevo.

Bevo, who famously made news in 2019 in the mascots' pregame photo op at the Sugar Bowl when he came charging out of his pen and knocked over a police barricade, was not permitted to travel to Atlanta for this weekend's game.

The size required for an enclosure large enough to house Bevo XV, who is more than 1,700 pounds with a horn span of 58 inches, was the issue for Saturday, according to an SEC spokesman. Bevo traveled to last year's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl, but the conference felt the space in Atlanta wasn't suitable.

«When we received the request for Bevo to be on the sideline in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, our staff looked at several alternatives including the sideline location,» the SEC said in a statement. «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. While we want to honor tradition across the conference, the space limitation is a reality.»

The Silver Spurs, Bevo's handlers, say he's the «largest live mascot in college athletics.» Colorado's Ralphie VI is estimated to be about 850 pounds.

Uga XI did not make the trip to Austin with the Bulldogs during Georgia's 30-15 victory in October. Uga XI is expected in Atlanta, about a 70-mile trip from Athens.

His owner, Charles Seiler, told the Austin American-Statesman that travel logistics for the 2½-year-old English bulldog made the trip difficult to Austin. Uga XI also didn't travel