Arkansas' Live Razorback Mascot Tusk VII Misses CFB Opener Due to Heat Advisory in Weather Forecast

Arkansas' live razorback mascot will be sitting out Saturday's home opener against North Alabama due to a heat advisory forecasted by The Weather Channel .

The official social media account for Tusk VII announced Saturday the mascot will not be present at Razorback Stadium.

The Weather Channel reports parts of Arkansas, including Fayetteville, are under a heat advisory Saturday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

The Razorbacks are set to open the season at 3:15 p.m. local time. The Weather Channel reports anticipated temperatures of 98 degrees with 33 percent humidity around that time.

The temperature in Fayetteville isn't set to drop below 90 degrees until after sunset around 7:30 p.m. ET, according to The Weather Channel.

Arkansas has participated in a live mascot program since 1997 . Tusk VII, the son of former Arkansas live mascot Tusk VI, was born last September and became the team's official mascot ahead of the 2026 season.

The Razorbacks are playing at Utah next Saturday, so the almost one-year-old mascot will have to wait until at least Sept. 19 against visiting Georgia to make his home debut. The Weather Channel currently anticipates a high temperature of 89 degrees that day in Fayetteville.