From chants to customs: Every Big 12 school’s most iconic football traditions

College football traditions stretch from coast to coast, and the Big 12 Conference is no exception.

Home to some of the sport’s loudest stadiums, most distinctive mascots and unforgettable game-day rituals, the conference blends longtime pageantry with newer traditions that have quickly become fan favorites.

Here’s a look at each Big 12 school’s most iconic customs and traditions:

Arizona

• Bear Down chant led by the band throughout games at Casino Del Sol Stadium
• Wilbur and Wilma mascot antics, including skits and crowd interaction
• Fans make a hand gesture forming a “W” and “C” (Wildcats) with their fingers

Arizona State

• Mascot Sparky approaches the stadium to “stomp” the opposing team’s bus
• Fans shake their car keys, serving notice that the Sun Devils are ready to drive
• After every score, Sparky does one push-up for every point on the board

Baylor

• Tailgating at the Baylor Basin on the Brazos River outside McLane Stadium
• The Baylor Line, where the freshmen class rushes onto the field before kickoff
• “Sic ‘Em, Bears!”: A greeting and hand gesture mimicking a bear’s claws

BYU

• The student section averages up to 120 decibels and sways to Kanye West’s “Power”
• The Cougar Tail, a 16-inch maple-bar doughnut served at LaVell Edwards Stadium
• The concrete block “Y” that serves as a permanent visual backdrop for home games

Cincinnati

• The Bearcat Walk outside Nippert Stadium
• The band sprinting down concrete stairs to meet the drumline on the field
• The Bearcat mascot crowdsurfing through the student section

Colorado

• Ralphie’s Run, a live American bison charging across the field led by handlers
• Folsom Field, with its panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains’ Flatirons range
• Fan Fest starts 3 hours before kickoff and features food trucks, music and games

Houston

• The Cougar Walk outside TDECU Stadium
• The Cougar Paw, as fans and players make a hand sign with the ring finger bent down
• The Frontiersmen spirit group runs UH flags across the field after every Cougars score

Iowa State

• Ringing an historic 1890 cast iron bell after every home victory at Jack Trice Stadium
• Fans performing a synchronized dance to the song “Juicy Wiggle” by Redfoo
• A blaring tornado siren (a storm is approaching) before the Cyclones take the field

Kansas

• First and foremost, Rock Chalk Jayhawk, one of college athletics’ most iconic cheers
• The Hawk Walk outside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
• The band leading fans down historic Campanile Hill toward the stadium before kickoff

Kansas State

• The band plays Wabash Cannonball as the crowd locks arms and sways back and forth
• A sea of fans dressed in royal purple, the sole official school color since 1896
• EMAW, an acronym for “Every Man a Wildcat,” representing unity and school spirit

Oklahoma State

• The Walk outside Boone Pickens Stadium
• The Spirit Rider rides Bullet, a horse, to celebrate every Cowboys touchdown
• Fans flash a pistols firing hand gesture to salute the team and celebrate big plays

TCU

• The Frog Walk outside Amon G. Carter Stadium
• The famous “Riff, Ram, Bah, Zoo!” yell ends with a booming “Give ’em Hell, TCU!”
• The Frog Horn, a loud, distinct blast to celebrate big plays and energize the crowd

Texas Tech

• The Masked Rider, a horse-riding mascot in scarlet and black, leads the team to the field
• The Guns Up hand sign, which mimics Raider Red’s pistols (index finger out, thumb up)
• Yes, it’s been banned, but we can’t forget about the tortilla toss kickoff tradition

UCF

• The Knight Walk outside the stadium, the Acrisure Bounce House
• The Bounce House shakes during Zombie Nation’s “Kernkraft 400”
• The Citronaut, UCF’s original space-themed mascot, often returns for big games

Utah

• The Ute Walk outside Rice-Eccles Stadium
• The student section (The MUSS) is recognized as one of the nation’s most raucous
• “Moment of Loudness,” a wave of fan noise to honor the lives of departed loved ones

West Virginia

• The Mountaineer Mantrip outside Milan Puskar Stadium
• John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is sung pregame and after wins
• The Mountaineer mascot fires a black powder muzzleloader to create a celebratory bang

READ MORE: From fight songs to mascots: Every ACC school’s most iconic football traditions

READ MORE: From mascots to rituals: Every Big Ten school’s most iconic football traditions

READ MORE: From chants to mascots: Every SEC school’s most iconic football traditions

Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.