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Texas Tech’s Masked Rider named No. 4 mascot in the nation, No. 1 in Big 12
Summary by The Lubbock Editorial Desk · As published by KCBD News
· August 26, 2026
· 2 min read
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The Masked Rider was named to the Top 10 of USA Today Sports’ Reader’s Choice Awards for Best College Mascot, finishing as the No. 4 mascot in the country. In addition to its top-five national finish, the Masked Rider was ranked as the No. 1 mascot in the Big 12 Conference...
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Summary created by The Lubbock Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Published by KCBD News Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 26, 2026 Indexed here Aug 27, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway “This recognition confirms what Red Raiders have known since 1954: The Masked Rider is one of college athletics’ most iconic mascots.
Why this matters in The Lubbock
The Masked Rider's top ranking is a point of pride for the Lubbock community, which has rallied around Texas Tech's iconic mascot for generations. As the city's largest employer and a major driver of local economic activity, Texas Tech's success has a direct impact on Lubbock's prosperity. The Masked Rider's national recognition will likely boost tourism and attract new visitors to Lubbock, who come to experience the excitement of a Red Raiders game and the unique traditions that surround it. With the Transfer of Reins ceremony and the dramatic pregame entrance, the Masked Rider has become an integral part of Lubbock's cultural identity, symbolizing the city's strong sense of community and school spirit. As Sofie Jones represents Texas Tech as the 65th Masked Rider, her involvement with the Honors College and the Texas Tech Rodeo Team also highlights the university's commitment to academic excellence and extracurricular opportunities, which benefit students and the broader Lubbock community.
About this story
Original reporting by KCBD News . The Lubbock selects stories from publishers’ feeds, summarises them, and links back to the publisher that reported them. We add no reporting of our own. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KCBD News . Have a tip or correction? Contact the editor .
Category: Local ·
Published: August 26, 2026 ·
Source: KCBD News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The Masked Rider was named to the Top 10 of USA Today Sports’ Reader’s Choice Awards for Best College Mascot, finishing as the No. 4 mascot in the country. In addition to its top-five national finish, the Masked Rider was ranked as the No. 1 mascot in the Big 12 Conference...
When was this published? This article was first published on August 26, 2026 by KCBD News and curated for The Lubbock readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by KCBD News. To learn more about how The Lubbock selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more Local coverage from The Lubbock, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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