Before the Sugar Bowl, Texas mascot Bevo the longhorn steer breaks out of his enclosure and almost runs over Georgia's mascot Uga. (1:00)

NEW ORLEANS -- Before Georgia and Texas squared off in Tuesday night's Allstate Sugar Bowl, the teams' respective mascots had a tense pregame meeting.

As the handlers for Bevo XV and Uga X tried to position the pair for a pregame photo op, Bevo charged in Uga's direction, knocking down the metal barriers surrounding him and leading to a brief moment of chaos.

"We were trying to turn him around to take a picture, and he made a run for it," said Patrick Dowell, a Texas senior and one of Bevo's handlers. "He was just going to say hi."

Dowell and the rest of Bevo's handlers quickly corralled the 1,600-pound steer and secured him without any apparent harm to Uga or nearby spectators. Once the situation abated, the photo op happened after all, with Bevo staying in his original position, facing the stands.

"He's as docile as a lamb," said John Baker, who owns Sunrise Ranch, where Bevo XV was bred. "That's the first time he's done that this year."

Bevo XV is in his third year of service on the Longhorns' sideline and will turn 4 years old this month, Baker said.

"He's a healthy and happy Bevo," Baker said.

Uga, a 62-pound English bulldog, emerged unscathed. He was alert and darted out of the way when Bevo began his charge.

"I had him turned around," said Charles Seiler, who was handling Uga X on Tuesday night. "He heard it and he didn't wait. He ran. And I ran."

After the game, a 28-21 Texas win, Uga was getting plenty of attention from Georgia band members who called his name and waved as they walked by him. Some stopped for photos.

The 5-year-old bulldog is in his fourth year with the team, Seiler said. Uga X has spent time on a cotton farm with three steers, Seiler said, so he wasn't spooked at first glance of Bevo, though he took timely precaution.