UT Traditions
Which hand signal, introduced at a 1955 pep rally by cheerleader Harley Clark, represents UT spirit worldwide?
Hook 'em Horns
What breed of longhorn cattle serves as the living mascot of The University of Texas?
Texas Longhorn
What is the name of the wide, pedestrian-only walkway running north-to-south directly through the heart of campus from Dean Keeton to MLK?
Speedway
In what year was The University of Texas at Austin founded and opened for its first class day?
1883
In July 2024, UT Austin officially left the Big 12 to join which major athletic conference?
The SEC / Southeastern Conference
Started in 1986, this pre-game tradition involves students gathering with red candles in the Main Mall to break a perceived jinx before playing Texas A&M.
The Hex Rally
Which Roman numeral designation belongs to the current live mascot representing UT on the sidelines?
Bevo XV
Located directly north of the Tower, this landscaped garden and pond features water lilies and dozens of red-eared slider turtles.
The Turtle Pond
The campus is famous for its historical nickname "The Forty Acres," but approximately how many acres of land does the main UT Austin campus actually cover today?
431 acres
Which two famous Hollywood actors and UT alumni are known as die-hard Longhorn fans and are frequently spotted together on the sidelines of UT football games?
Matthew McConaughey and Glen Powell
What does it signify when the UT Tower is lit entirely orange with the numeral "1" displayed in lit window blinds on all four sides?
A Texas athletics championship victory
Operated by the Texas Cowboys spirit group, what is the name of the replica civil war cannon fired after scores and kickoffs at home football games?
Smokey the Cannon / Smokey
Based on student capacity, what are the names of the largest and smallest residence halls on the UT campus?
Jester West is the largest; Brackenridge is the smallest
As of the Fall 2025 semester, UT Austin is academically divided into how many Colleges and Schools.
16
What is the name of the free game-day concert series and music festival that takes place on the LBJ Lawn during the fall football season?
Longhorn City Limits
What is the official title of UT's alma mater, written in 1903 by John Lang Sinclair to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad"?
"The Eyes of Texas"
What rare campus animal sighting is rumored by student legend to bring good luck and an "A" on your upcoming exams?
The Albino Squirrel
What prominent bronze fountain, sculpted by Pompeo Coppini to commemorate fallen soldiers from WWI, sits at the base of the South Mall?
Littlefield Fountain
What was the name of the small, energetic tan-and-white stray dog that served as UT's very first campus mascot from 1914 to 1916?
Pig Bellmont
The Red River Rivalry is UT's legendary annual football clash against Oklahoma. Entering the 2026 season, how many total times has Texas defeated Oklahoma in this historic matchup?
65 wins
What student organization is solely responsible for playing the Tower's 56-bell carillon for the campus to hear on a daily basis?
The Texas Guild of Carillonneurs
Excluding the debunked 13-0 branding myth, how did Bevo most likely get his name according to UT historians?
It was a play on the word "beeve," an old slang term for a steer destined for food, with an "O" added at the end
What presidential library and museum is located on the eastern edge of the UT Austin campus, housing over 45 million pages of historical documents?
The Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Presidential Library
Architect Paul Cret designed the master plan of UT’s central campus in what distinctive historic architectural style, notable for red-tile roofs and limestone walls?
Mediterranean Revival / Spanish Renaissance Revival
Only two Texas Longhorns football players have ever won the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Name both of these legendary running backs.
Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams