Otto the Orange has officially joined the name, image and likeness (NIL) era.

The beloved Syracuse University mascot is the first in the nation to ink a merchandise deal with The NIL Store as a part of the new 2025 Mascot Mania Jersey Collection.

It features a throwback-style jersey with an oversized graphic of Otto the Orange, paired with the numbers of current Orange football players signed to the NIL Store. At a press conference, Otto received their first jersey from football punter Jack Stonehouse, who warmly welcomed Otto to the NIL team.

The jersey designs combine vintage fashion with mascot flair, offering a fun way for fans of all ages to represent Syracuse while also supporting current athletes. Each purchase from the store provides direct NIL earnings to Syracuse football players and the Orange mascot program, bringing together tradition and innovation.

The benefit to the mascot program will be in allowing Otto to be at more places and to deliver a better experience, says Otto Coach Julie Walas ’07, G’13. “We’re excited to use the proceeds from the store to help celebrate big milestone moments for the University,” Walas says. She looks forward to working with the NIL Store team to develop more Otto-themed products in the future.

“Otto has been bringing joy to our campus and community for decades, and this NIL opportunity allows us to enhance that experience while providing additional support to our student-athletes,” says Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80. “It’s one of the many creative possibilities of NIL and we’re proud that Syracuse has the first collegiate mascot to secure this type of deal.”

Otto became a fixture on the sidelines of Syracuse University athletic competitions in the 1980s and the official University mascot in 1995. Along with keeping the enthusiasm level high during sporting events, Otto is a University ambassador who attends a broad range of University and community events. They were inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in August 2023.