The question plaguing Penn State fans for weeks has finally been answered. Yes, the Nittany Lion mascot is wearing a new costume.

After an intense investigation sending two emails, Onward State received a statement from Penn State Athletics spokesperson Kris Peterson on Friday about the change.

“There is a new Nittany Lion mascot suit this year,” Peterson wrote. “The new suit improves the suit’s airflow and comfortability for the person wearing it.”

There are other noticeable differences in the Nittany Lion’s costume this year, pictured on top, vs. the old costume, pictured below. The fur on the Nittany Lion is darker than normal and seems slicker, at least in pictures. Additionally, the teeth on the Nittany Lion look bigger, as does its mouth.

Regardless of the changes, it seems the Symbol of Our Best is still able to perform his basic duties: one-armed pushups, cowbells, and ear shakes.

About the Author

Joe Lister

Joe, shockingly, was Onward State's managing editor from 2024-25. It was an honor. He's off employed doing journalism things, hopefully. If you want to complain about anything he's ever written, you can find him on Twitter (iamjoelister), email (jlister2021@gmail.com), or Signal (iamjoelister.93).

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