Brutus Buckeye Costume
Bring the ultimate Ohio State spirit with this iconic mascot look.
Brutus Buckeye is the beloved, high-energy mascot of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Perfect for game days, sports-themed parties, and Halloween, this costume features a giant buckeye nut head, a striped scarlet and gray shirt, and red pants. Recreating this look lets you channel the ultimate collegiate team spirit.
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $60–200
Try it on
See yourself as Brutus Buckeye
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Brutus Buckeye costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Brutus Buckeye costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Buckeye Mascot Head
A large, spherical brown mascot head shaped like a buckeye nut, featuring a friendly face and an attached red and gray 'Block O' baseball cap.
DIY: Use papier-mâché over a large exercise ball, paint it brown with a tan patch on top, and attach a red baseball cap.
Scarlet and Gray Striped Shirt
A long-sleeve shirt with horizontal scarlet red and gray stripes, featuring 'BRUTUS' and '00' printed on the front in white block letters.
DIY: Buy a plain red and gray striped shirt and use white fabric paint or iron-on vinyl to add 'BRUTUS' and '00' to the chest.
Red Athletic Pants
Bright scarlet red track pants or sweatpants with a relaxed athletic fit.
White Athletic Towel
A plain white hand towel tucked into the front waistband of the pants.
DIY: Use any small white hand towel or golf towel.
White Athletic Shoes
Classic white sneakers or running shoes to complete the sporty mascot look.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Brutus Buckeye costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the scarlet red athletic pants and secure them comfortably at your waist.
- 2
Pull on the scarlet and gray horizontally striped long-sleeve shirt.
- 3
Tuck the white athletic towel over the front waistband of your red pants so it hangs down the center.
- 4
Lace up a clean pair of white athletic sneakers.
- 5
If using a DIY head, ensure there are clear mesh eyeholes for visibility before putting it on.
- 6
Carefully place the oversized buckeye mascot head over your head, adjusting it for comfort and visibility.
Makeup & hair
No makeup or hair styling is required, as your entire head will be covered by the oversized Brutus Buckeye mascot head.
Brutus Buckeye for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with an Ohio State cheerleader in a classic pleated skirt and scarlet sweater.
- group
- Go as a full Ohio State fan section, with others wearing scarlet and gray jerseys, face paint, and holding pom-poms.
- kids
- A red and gray striped tee, red sweatpants, and a brown knit beanie painted to look like a buckeye nut.
- Plus size
- Use loose-fitting red sweatpants and an oversized striped jersey for a comfortable, breathable fit.
- pet
- A red and gray striped dog sweater with a small plush buckeye toy attached to the collar.
Tips
- Mascot heads can get very hot; wear a moisture-wicking undershirt and take frequent breaks to cool down.
- Ensure your DIY or purchased mascot head has adequate ventilation and wide eyeholes for safety while walking around.
- Keep your poses high-energy, bouncy, and athletic to match Brutus's real-life sideline persona.
- Carry a football or an Ohio State flag as a fun prop for photos.
Brutus Buckeye costume FAQ
- What is Brutus Buckeye supposed to be?
- Brutus Buckeye is the mascot of Ohio State University, representing a buckeye—the nut of the Ohio buckeye tree, which is the official state tree of Ohio.
- Can you buy an official Brutus Buckeye mascot suit?
- Official, university-grade Brutus mascot suits are not sold to the public. However, you can buy replica mascot heads or easily DIY the look using a striped shirt, red pants, and a custom headpiece.
- How do you make a DIY Brutus Buckeye head?
- You can create one using papier-mâché over a large balloon or exercise ball. Paint it brown with a tan circular patch on top, cut out eyeholes covered with black mesh, and glue a red 'Block O' cap to the top.
Did you know? Brutus Buckeye first appeared in 1965, originally constructed out of papier-mâché by two students before transitioning to more durable fiberglass and foam designs.