<P> Ohio State students Ray Bourhis and Sally Huber decided Ohio State needed a mascot in 1965 and convinced the athletic council to study the matter . At the time , mascots were generally animals brought into the stadium or arena . A buck deer was contemplated but rejected as impossible . Instead , the buckeye was selected , as the buckeye is the official state tree of Ohio . A simple papier - mâché nut was constructed by students , worn over the head and torso , with legs sticking out . It made its appearance at the Minnesota vs. Ohio State homecoming football game on October 30 , 1965 . The heavy papier - mâché nut did not last and it was soon replaced by a fiberglass shell . On November 21 , 1965 , The Columbus Dispatch reported that judges picked Brutus Buckeye to be the new mascot 's name after a campus - wide `` Name the Buckeye '' contest . The winning name was the idea of then Ohio State student Kerry J. Reed , 21 . `` Block O '' agreed to care for Brutus in December . In the early 2000s , the Brutus costume was stolen before a game . The mascot was forced to wear the old costume . </P>
what is a buckeye the mascot for ohio state university
the official state tree of Ohio