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Mascot Madness is Coming
Voting starts March 10
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Feb, 23, 2026 — Get ready, Acorn Nation! SUNY Mascot Madness is almost here, and Oakie is gearing up to reclaim the title last captured in 2017.
Voting starts March 10 in the annual competition that rallies SUNY mascots from across New York to see who fans think is the true champion. This year marks the 13th edition of the competition that unifies campuses in friendly rivalry.
“I know 13 will be a lucky number for me,” Oakie said while preparing for the contest.
With strong support from ESF students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Syracuse community, Oakie has a proven track record in Mascot Madness. In addition to the 2017 championship, Oakie reached the final round in both 2022 and 2023, each time finishing just behind Stony Brook by a margin thinner than an oak leaf.
Just like the NCAA March Madness tournament, Mascot Madness features five rounds. Fans can vote once every 12 hours at the SUNY Mascot Madness website — https://www.suny.edu/mascotmadness/ — when voting opens March 10.
“Bookmark the site now,” Oakie said. “And vote twice a day while you’re on Spring Break. I know I can count on the ESF community to help me bring the title home!”
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.