Hello, D2 fans, and happy almost season! I recently ranked every nickname in the entire sport of college football based on who would win in a fight (the full ranking of which you can check out at the link below). Now, if you're an D2 football fan, that list of 673 schools from all four divisions might have been a little cumbersome to work through, so here is the streamlined post you've been waiting for.
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READ: College Football Mascot (Nickname) Rankings
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In the table below, you'll find the definitive ranking of every D2 nickname based on who would win in a fight.
First, some ground rules. All fights assume that both participants are facing each other and are prepared and ready for a scrap. Crucially, I'm ranking nicknames only here. That means I'm not giving James Madison a bulldog, they're the Dukes.
It also means that kings don't have their royal guard and presidents don't have the Secret Service. Every participant gets the items you'd reasonably expect them to have on them. Marauders get a pistol and sword, Lumberjacks get an axe, you get the idea.
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Finally, I made the determination that golden always means better than normal, with the exception of eagles because golden eagles are smaller than bald eagles.
So let's get to it! I know that you'll all have quibbles with this list, but you didn't put the work in, so I don't want to hear it! Just kidding, I'd love to entertain all of your disputes. Tweet them @befox21 or @HEROSportsD2FB, whatever your heart desires.
Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for, let's get into some mascot fights!
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D2 Rank | Overall Rank | School | Nickname | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | California (PA) | Vulcans | California, Pennsylvania |
2 | 7 | Lane College | Dragons | Jackson, Tennessee |
2 | 7 | MSU Moorhead | Dragons | Moorhead, Minnesota |
2 | 7 | Tiffin | Dragons | Tiffin, Ohio |
3 | 18 | Southeastern Oklahoma State | Savage Storm | Durant, Oklahoma |
4 | 34 | Alderson Broaddus | Battlers | Philippi, West Virginia |
5 | 35 | Northwestern Oklahoma State | Rangers | Alva, Oklahoma |
6 | 37 | Tuskegee | Golden Tigers | Tuskegee, Alabama |
7 | 38 | Adams State | Grizzlies | Alamosa, Colorado |
8 | 39 | Concordia-St. Paul | Golden Bears | St. Paul, Minnesota |
8 | 39 | Kutztown | Golden Bears | Kutztown, Pennsylvania |
8 | 39 | Miles | Golden Bears | Fairfield, Alabama |
9 | 40 | Benedict | Tigers | Columbia, South Carolina |
9 | 40 | East Central | Tigers | Ada, Oklahoma |
9 | 40 | Fort Hays State | Tigers | Hays, Kansas |
9 | 40 | Ouachita Baptist | Tigers | Arkadelphia, Arkansas |
9 | 40 | West Alabama | Tigers | Livingston, Alabama |
10 | 41 | Lenoir–Rhyne | Bears | Hickory, North Carolina |
10 | 41 | Shaw | Bears | Raleigh, North Carolina |
11 | 42 | Livingstone | Blue Bears | Salisbury, North Carolina |
12 | 48 | Virginia State | Trojans | Ettrick, Virginia |
13 | 49 | Gannon | Golden Knights | Erie, Pennsylvania |
14 | 53 | Urbana | Blue Knights | Urbana, Ohio |
15 | 57 | Walsh | Cavaliers | Canton, Ohio |
16 | 58 | Augustana (SD) | Vikings | Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
16 | 58 | Elizabeth City State | Vikings | Elizabeth City, North Carolina |
17 | 59 | Virginia-Wise | Highland Cavaliers | Wise, Virginia |
18 | 61 | Simon Fraser | Clan | Burnaby, British Columbia |
19 | 62 | Seton Hill | Griffins | Greensburg, Pennsylvania |
19 | 62 | Missouri Western State | Griffons | St. Joseph, Missouri |
20 | 64 | Lincoln (MO) | Blue Tigers | Jefferson City, Missouri |
21 | 65 | Morehouse | Maroon Tigers | Atlanta, Georgia |
22 | 67 | Lincoln (PA) | Lions | Lower Oxford, Pennsylvania |
22 | 67 | Lindenwood | Lions | St. Charles, Missouri |
22 | 67 | Mars Hill | Lions | Mars Hill, North Carolina |
22 | 67 | Missouri Southern State | Lions | Joplin, Missouri |
22 | 67 | North Alabama | Lions | Florence, Alabama |
22 | 67 | Texas A&M–Commerce | Lions | Commerce, Texas |
23 | 70 | Azusa Pacific | Cougars | Azusa, California |
23 | 70 | Sioux Falls | Cougars | Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
24 | 71 | Concord | Mountain Lions | Athens, West Virginia |
25 | 74 | Clark Atlanta | Panthers | Atlanta, Georgia |
25 | 74 | Davenport | Panthers | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
25 | 74 | Florida Tech | Panthers | Melbourne, Florida |
25 | 74 | Kentucky Wesleyan | Panthers | Owensboro, Kentucky |
25 | 74 | Ohio Dominican | Panthers | Columbus, Ohio |
25 | 74 | Virginia Union | Panthers | Richmond, Virginia |
25 | 75 | Oklahoma Baptist | Bison | Shawnee, Oklahoma |
26 | 76 | West Texas A&M | Buffaloes | Canyon, Texas |
27 | 77 | Harding | Bisons | Searcy, Arkansas |
28 | 79 | Lake Erie | Storm | Painesville, Ohio |
29 | 80 | Southern Nazarene | Crimson Storm | Bethany, Oklahoma |
30 | 81 | Hillsdale | Chargers | Hillsdale, Michigan |
30 | 81 | New Haven | Chargers | West Haven, Connecticut |
31 | 87 | Central State | Marauders | Wilberforce, Ohio |
31 | 87 | Mary | Marauders | Bismarck, North Dakota |
31 | 87 | Millersville | Marauders | Millersville, Pennsylvania |
32 | 90 | Shippensburg | Red Raiders | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania |
33 | 94 | East Stroudsburg | Warriors | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |
33 | 94 | Merrimack | Warriors | North Andover, Massachusetts |
33 | 94 | Wayne State (MI) | Warriors | Detroit, Michigan |
33 | 94 | Winona State | Warriors | Winona, Minnesota |
34 | 96 | UNC Pembroke | Braves | Pembroke, North Carolina |
35 | 98 | Delta State | Statesmen | Cleveland, Mississippi |
36 | 101 | Mississippi College | Choctaws | Clinton, Mississippi |
37 | 105 | Catawba | Indians | Salisbury, North Carolina |
38 | 106 | North Greenville | Crusaders | Tigerville, South Carolina |
39 | 109 | West Florida | Argonauts | Pensacola, Florida |
40 | 111 | Edinboro | Fighting Scots | Edinboro, Pennsylvania |
41 | 114 | Johnson C. Smith | Golden Bulls | Charlotte, North Carolina |
42 | 122 | Tarleton State | Texans | Stephenville, Texas |
43 | 123 | New Mexico Highlands | Cowboys | Las Vegas, New Mexico |
44 | 124 | Western State | Mountaineers | Gunnison, Colorado |
45 | 125 | Dixie State | Trailblazers | St. George, Utah |
46 | 127 | Humboldt State | Lumberjacks | Arcata, California |
47 | 131 | Findlay | Oilers | Findlay, Ohio |
48 | 133 | Glenville State | Pioneers | Glenville, West Virginia |
48 | 133 | LIU-Post | Pioneers | Brookville, New York |
48 | 133 | Malone | Pioneers | Canton, Ohio |
48 | 133 | Tusculum | Pioneers | Tusculum, Tennessee |
49 | 138 | Pittsburg State | Gorillas | Pittsburg, Kansas |
50 | 140 | CSU Pueblo | ThunderWolves | Pueblo, Colorado |
51 | 143 | Cheyney | Wolves | Cheyney, Pennsylvania |
51 | 143 | Newberry | Wolves | Newberry, South Carolina |
51 | 143 | Northern State | Wolves | Aberdeen, South Dakota |
51 | 143 | West Georgia | Wolves | Carrollton, Georgia |
51 | 143 | Western Oregon | Wolves | Monmouth, Oregon |