TCU fans are captivated by the Hypnotoad. But what is it?

There is no denying the magic of the Sonny Dykes era at TCU.

Ranked No. 3 in the nation and poised to face No. 2 Michigan in a national college football semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve, the Horned Frogs are 12-1 for the season with a shot at a third national football championship.

Fans are riveted by this team. But they are also riveted — nay, they are hypnotized — by an off-the-field mascot. Enter the Hypnotoad.

So, what exactly is a Hypnotoad?

Apparently the Hypnotoad is something otherworldly, as in Futurama’s most recognizable symbol of psychedelia that can bend anything to its will. The Hynotoad first appeared on the third season of the animated sitcom in 2001 as an alien creature hypnotizing people, contorting them to do what it wanted.

It has since grown in popularity with people invoking the saying “All Glory to the Hypnotoad” in mid sentence showing they’ve fallen to its hypnotizing gaze.

The way Dykes’ team has dictated the run of play at just the right time, well, seems hypnotizing. It may have won the hearts and minds of the thousands of faithful fans at Amon G. Carter Stadium this season — not to mention their pocketbooks.

Can you buy anything with a Hypnotoad on it?

It looks like there is no officially licensed Hypnotoad merchandise, but there’s plenty available via other third-party vendors. There are sweatshirts of the mind-bending frog for sale. Even socks, if you can believe it. Dykes told The Athletic his phone blew up after he wore the Hynotoad hoodie at a game earlier in the season.

The legend of the hypnotic frog may have found a home.