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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking all 18 Big Ten Mascots
The Big Ten conference has some of the most aesthetiycally intriguing and iconic mascots. Whether it be the standard-bearing Oregon Duck, which somehow interprets the concept perfect, or USC, whose human and costume mascots add a unique flair to their program, each program has a distinct hype man backing them throughout their as some fanbases may come to find, none at all. 18. Indiana Hoosiers One of two Big Ten schools without a mascot, there's a lot going against Indiana at the bottom. The first reason being that traditionally, Indian has not been a powerhouse Big Ten school for quite some time despite having some success on the gridiron. Add in the fact the the Hoosiers is very much tailored to the state's rich basketball history and that may be the reason why Indiana can't find a mascot to satisfy all fronts. 17. Michigan Wolverines The other school surprisingly without a mascot, at the very least, Michigan has slightly more aura surrounding its program than the Hoosiers. Their rich footballing history combined with their classic maize and blue color scheme give them the edge in the mascotless race. 16. Iowa Hawkeyes Mascot Name: Harry the Hawk The first school with a mascot on this list, Harry the Hawk does not quite fit the intimidating nature of the team's uniforms. The beak on the head is too unwieldy and unappealing and counteracts the aesthetic of adding a uniform. It would be much higher if they figured out a more presentable beak. 15. Purdue Boilermakers Mascot Name: Purdue Pete The low ranking for Purdue Pete stems from the head. It's highly offputting and eliminates all of the visually appealing things going on with the rest of the outfit, including the camo pants and the hard hat. Plus, it doesn't really fit the model of what a "Boilermaker" could potentially be. 14. Illinois Fighting Illini Mascot Name: Kingfisher Surprisingly, a school with the nickname "Fighting Illini" does in fact have a mascot. And while Kingfisher is perfectly okay and is a much better concept than many other Big Ten schools, the clash between an intriguing mascot and an offputting team nickname is enough to scratch your head. Maybe history will be on Kingfisher's side in the long term, but for now, it's a bit befuddling for the Illini. 13. Maryland Terrapins Mascot Name: Testudo While some might find a turtle as a mascot somewhat confusing, I actually like the look of Testudo. It's almost as if he's half Pokemon and half Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. That aesthetic, at least in my mind, somehow works a lot better than I ever imagined. At the very least as well, it's an effort to be creative with a weird nickname. 12. UCLA Bruins Mascot Name: Joe Bruin Joe Bruin is just a classic middle of the pack kind of mascot that doesn't overdo anything but still might not do enough for certain people. It's a good-looking bear at best, but the color clash between the blue and gold jersey and the brown fur makes it look a bit Build-a-Bearish at worst. Not a good look for a blueblood college sports program. 11. Northwestern Wildcats Mascot Name: Willie the Wildcat Willie The Wildcat has an underrated feel to him. Whether it be the way the name rolls off the tongue or because off the interesting color choice of his fur, Willie might not gets the flowers he deserves for simply fitting the part of what a classic mascot should be. Cool name? Check. Cool design? Check. Most importantly, do you fit the school nickname? Check. Willie the Wildcat is about as solid as you can get for a mascot in the conference. 10. Washington Huskies Mascot Name: Harry the Huskie With really nothing much separating both Willie and Harry either aesthetically or stylistically, at least the Washington mascot can hang its hat on being the best ranked mascot named Harry in the conference. 9. Minnesota Golden Gophers Mascot Name: Goldy Gopher With an off-putting nickname such as the Golden Gophers, it must have been hard to come up with a cool concept for Minnesota. However, they somehow pulled it off with Goldy. Her two front teeth are a major selling point and add to the goofiness of the costume. However, a more intimidating look could have seen Goldy higher on this list. However, kudos to Minnesota for trying to get funky with the idea of a gopher. 8. Penn State Nittany Lions Mascot Name: Nittany Lions Unfortunately, bias is a large aspect as to why Penn State's Nittany Lions is this high. Despite the cool nickname and the somewhat decent looking lion costume, the teeth are too creepy and the fur and blue and white color scheme don't quite fit together. However, you can't knock the school you write about too hard and it isn't all that bad when you combine it with the school's crazy atmospheres at football and basketball games. 7. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Mascot Name: Sir Henry the Scarlet Knight It's sometimes hard to pull off a knight mascot considering how bold you might have to go, but Sir Henry is executed to near perfection. He manages to pull off the scarlet and white color scheme better than the teams that wear them. The only points that I would take off are for the disproportionate head. It's a little bit too goofy to fit the whole knight image. 6. USC Trojans Mascot Name: Tommy Trojan It's one thing to have one cool mascot. Having two on the other hand, is quite the feat to pull off. USC do it in style, with the human Trojan riding in on a horse to hype up the crowd and one of the best looking "royal" mascots of the Big Ten, Tommy Trojan, to back it all up. Also, a more intimidating aesthetic is thus created, putting them a bit higher on the list than Sir Henry. 5. Ohio State Buckeyes Mascot Name: Brutus the Buckeye Having the coolest name in the conference, Brutus checks off a lot of boxes: a cool looking head, great design, the scarlet and grey striped shirt, and somehow, the ability to represent a kooky nickname that otherwise would not make sense in the slightest. For that, Brutus just about breaks into the top 5. 4. Nebraska Cornhuskers Mascot Name: Herbie Husker A mascot finally not named Harry but still begins with the letter H, Herbie is forgiven for not exactly being a Cornhusker. Perhaps the most intimidating of the human mascots in the Big Ten, Herbie is the closest thing to a everyman mascot in the conference. Plus the overalls and boots totally add to the Midwestern vibe as well the classic red cowboy hat. 3. Wisconsin Badgers Mascot Name: Bucky Badger Bucky Badger might just be one of the most cerebral mascots of the Big Ten. Somehow the misshapen head works and combines really nicely with the red and white pinstriped shirt. He is a classic in the conference and won't soon be forgotten in the annals of college football history. 2. Oregon Ducks Mascot Name: The Oregon Duck The Oregon Duck could very well make the case for the No. 1 spot on this list. To make a duck mascot more iconic than Aflac's in college sports is difficult and yet Oregon have cracked the code. Equal parts goofy and scary, it shouldn't work as well as it does. But if the Ducks continue to rise in the college sports landscape, the Duck will go down in history as one of the most unusually fascinating mascots of all time. 1. Michigan State Spartans Mascot Name: Sparty Nothing quite beats tradition in college sports, and Sparty the Spartan is steeped in it. Roaming the sidelines since 1955, Sparty represents the tradition of the Big Ten unlike any other program in college sports. He's more than a mascot at some times, he's an institution that is instantly recognizable to those who love college sports. Quite simply a perfect mascot to round off this list.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to protect your business from AI lawsuits
On this week's episode of Yahoo Finance Future Focus, our host Brian McGleenon delves into how artificial intelligence is transforming how businesses operate, but how the new technology is also triggering a surge in lawsuits. In the interview, Testudo CEO George Lewin-Smith unpacked the sharp rise in AI-related litigation, from copyright infringement to bias, performance, and regulatory risks. Lewin-Smith explained that even small businesses using AI tools for tasks like generating marketing content or legal documents may unknowingly expose themselves to legal liability. As the number of generative AI lawsuits grows, up 143% in the US between 2023 and 2024, he warned that both regulators and companies are struggling to keep pace with the risks. To manage this evolving threat landscape, Lewin-Smith advocated for proactive legal advice and the emergence of AI-specific insurance products. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's behind the surge in AI-related lawsuits?
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how businesses operate, from small startups to multinational corporations. But as companies race to harness its power, lawsuits linked to AI use are surging, catching businesses off-guard and leaving legal systems scrambling to catch up. To unpack the risks, Yahoo Finance UK sat down with Testudo CEO George Lewin-Smith to explore the real-world legal consequences of AI deployment, and what businesses can do to protect themselves. "It's really interesting that for the first time, we have now seen lawsuits where companies are actually taking advantage of another company's AI system to extract information and data and even copy that system themselves," Lewin-Smith said. This trend, he explained, goes beyond mere copyright concerns. 'Copyright and IP infringement is not just the only story here. The type of litigation we see is much broader as well. Read more: Crypto live prices 'There's discrimination and bias, there's performance related issues, contractual issues and regulatory enforcements as well. So copyright and IP infringement is key in the headline, but the story is much broader than that as well.' As AI tools become more accessible, small businesses are increasingly turning to generative models for everything from marketing visuals to legal templates. But this convenience comes with hidden danger. When asked if these businesses might be unwittingly putting themselves at risk of AI-related copyright infringement, Lewin-Smith said: 'It's very interesting that for the first time, companies deploying and using AI systems might unintentionally be exposed to IP and copyright risks, based on just the inherent nature of how that technology is built and how the base models have created. Those models means that the risk is new to them.' While some developers have introduced limited contractual indemnities, Lewin-Smith believes these are insufficient. 'They're actually quite light, and our analysis is, is that that is not enough, and unfortunately, companies could be at risk.' The explosion of generative AI tools since late 2022 has triggered a spike in related litigation. 'From 2023 to 2024 alone, we saw 143% increase in generative AI lawsuits in the US alone,' Lewin-Smith said. 'More broadly, this trend is increasing, and this is because this technology is becoming more widely used, but also because there are inherent risks in using it.' Read more: Quantum computers could expose sensitive data within years, says IBM scientist 'We really encourage the safe adoption of this technology," he said. "We want people to enjoy the productivity gains and the benefits, especially for small companies, but do it in a in a risk managed way.' As lawsuits rise, regulators are under pressure to draw clear boundaries. But even defining what AI is, legally and practically, is proving tricky. 'The definition is a difficult place to start,' said Lewin-Smith. 'And we know the regulators and institutions around the world are grappling with what the hell is AI and how do we define it legally that doesn't incorporate your standard Excel model as an artificial intelligence, but does very focus the definition on the generative side of things.' Read more: How will AI change the world of scamming? | The Crypto Mile He emphasised the disconnect between theory and reality. 'Regulators are scrambling with this. Lawyers are trying to understand it, and we're really focused as well in understanding AI risk in the real world, so focusing on litigation risks and not just theorising about potential speculative risk.' With the legal landscape shifting beneath their feet, what should businesses, large or small, do to shield themselves from the growing risk of AI-related litigation? 'The first step, obviously, is speak to your lawyers, but legal advice is only part of the puzzle. We believe there's a new category of insurance that enterprises should and can buy now, specifically for these AI risks, and that's what we're looking to bring to the market, in addition to all the traditional risk management pillars as well," Lewin-Smith said. He thinks that this kind of AI-specific insurance will soon become essential. 'We believe that AI insurance is a critical tool in the arsenal for internal teams, whether you're a small company, a medium or a large company, to cover yourself from these litigation risks. And we're excited to bring that to the mark to the market.' Read more: UK's 'tax on employment' is hurting business, says Centrus CEO 6 crypto developments in 2025 that will keep fuelling bitcoin's rally What Trump's planned banking deregulation means for investorsError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to protect your business from AI lawsuits
On this week's episode of Yahoo Finance Future Focus, our host Brian McGleenon delves into how artificial intelligence is transforming how businesses operate, but how the new technology is also triggering a surge in lawsuits. In the interview, Testudo CEO George Lewin-Smith unpacked the sharp rise in AI-related litigation, from copyright infringement to bias, performance, and regulatory risks. Lewin-Smith explained that even small businesses using AI tools for tasks like generating marketing content or legal documents may unknowingly expose themselves to legal liability. As the number of generative AI lawsuits grows, up 143% in the US between 2023 and 2024, he warned that both regulators and companies are struggling to keep pace with the risks. To manage this evolving threat landscape, Lewin-Smith advocated for proactive legal advice and the emergence of AI-specific insurance products. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's behind the surge in AI-related lawsuits?
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how businesses operate, from small startups to multinational corporations. But as companies race to harness its power, lawsuits linked to AI use are surging, catching businesses off-guard and leaving legal systems scrambling to catch up. To unpack the risks, Yahoo Finance UK sat down with Testudo CEO George Lewin-Smith to explore the real-world legal consequences of AI deployment, and what businesses can do to protect themselves. "It's really interesting that for the first time, we have now seen lawsuits where companies are actually taking advantage of another company's AI system to extract information and data and even copy that system themselves," Lewin-Smith said. This trend, he explained, goes beyond mere copyright concerns. 'Copyright and IP infringement is not just the only story here. The type of litigation we see is much broader as well. Read more: Crypto live prices 'There's discrimination and bias, there's performance related issues, contractual issues and regulatory enforcements as well. So copyright and IP infringement is key in the headline, but the story is much broader than that as well.' As AI tools become more accessible, small businesses are increasingly turning to generative models for everything from marketing visuals to legal templates. But this convenience comes with hidden danger. When asked if these businesses might be unwittingly putting themselves at risk of AI-related copyright infringement, Lewin-Smith said: 'It's very interesting that for the first time, companies deploying and using AI systems might unintentionally be exposed to IP and copyright risks, based on just the inherent nature of how that technology is built and how the base models have created. Those models means that the risk is new to them.' While some developers have introduced limited contractual indemnities, Lewin-Smith believes these are insufficient. 'They're actually quite light, and our analysis is, is that that is not enough, and unfortunately, companies could be at risk.' The explosion of generative AI tools since late 2022 has triggered a spike in related litigation. 'From 2023 to 2024 alone, we saw 143% increase in generative AI lawsuits in the US alone,' Lewin-Smith said. 'More broadly, this trend is increasing, and this is because this technology is becoming more widely used, but also because there are inherent risks in using it.' Read more: Quantum computers could expose sensitive data within years, says IBM scientist 'We really encourage the safe adoption of this technology," he said. "We want people to enjoy the productivity gains and the benefits, especially for small companies, but do it in a in a risk managed way.' As lawsuits rise, regulators are under pressure to draw clear boundaries. But even defining what AI is, legally and practically, is proving tricky. 'The definition is a difficult place to start,' said Lewin-Smith. 'And we know the regulators and institutions around the world are grappling with what the hell is AI and how do we define it legally that doesn't incorporate your standard Excel model as an artificial intelligence, but does very focus the definition on the generative side of things.' Read more: How will AI change the world of scamming? | The Crypto Mile He emphasised the disconnect between theory and reality. 'Regulators are scrambling with this. Lawyers are trying to understand it, and we're really focused as well in understanding AI risk in the real world, so focusing on litigation risks and not just theorising about potential speculative risk.' With the legal landscape shifting beneath their feet, what should businesses, large or small, do to shield themselves from the growing risk of AI-related litigation? 'The first step, obviously, is speak to your lawyers, but legal advice is only part of the puzzle. We believe there's a new category of insurance that enterprises should and can buy now, specifically for these AI risks, and that's what we're looking to bring to the market, in addition to all the traditional risk management pillars as well," Lewin-Smith said. He thinks that this kind of AI-specific insurance will soon become essential. 'We believe that AI insurance is a critical tool in the arsenal for internal teams, whether you're a small company, a medium or a large company, to cover yourself from these litigation risks. And we're excited to bring that to the mark to the market.' Read more: UK's 'tax on employment' is hurting business, says Centrus CEO 6 crypto developments in 2025 that will keep fuelling bitcoin's rally What Trump's planned banking deregulation means for investorsError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
