BSports - Latest Sports News & Updates

Here is more on why the University of Indiana's mascot is a bison.

Why is Indiana's mascot a bison? Explaining the history behind Hoosier the Bison originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Universities and colleges allow people to become part of something bigger than themselves. Part of that identity comes with a mascot, which provides a physical representation of the school and usually cheers on its sports teams or attends public events.

The University of Indiana has been called "the Hoosiers" since 1923, but that never really made for a good mascot. While the origin of the term is unknown, it is used to describe people from the state of Indiana. This presented the school with a problem. IU couldn't be like Ohio State with its Buckeye, or a Spartan like Michigan State.

The school opted to go the route of Stanford University, which is the Cardinal but has a tree as its mascot. The Hoosiers toyed with various mascots over their history, and even went mascot-less from 1979 until 2024. Then it was revealed that the Hoosiers would be represented by a bison.

Here is more on why Indiana's mascot is a bison.

MORE CFP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NEWS:

Why is Indiana's mascot a Bison?

Bison were prominent in Indiana when settlers first arrived in the state's earliest settlement, per Jeremy Gray of IU's Athletic Strategic Communications Department. There is a bison in the state seal. The ROTC at IU is called the Bison Battalion. There is also a significant movement to conserve bison in the state of Indiana, given the species' history there.

MORE: Where is Fernando Mendoza from?

What is a Hoosier?

The origin of the word "Hoosier" is unknown. According to the Indiana Historical Society, "One of the earliest known uses of the term is found in an 1827 letter that states, 'There is a yankee trick for you – done up by a Hoosier.' In 1831, Gen. John Tipton received a proposal from a businessman offering to name his boat the 'Indiana Hoosier.' The word 'Hoosier' was widely used by the 1830s. In 1848, Bartlett’s Dictionary of Americanisms defined 'Hoosier' as 'A nickname given at the west, to natives of Indiana.'”

MORE: Meet Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza's family

Indiana mascot history

The University of Indiana has been the Hoosiers since 1923, when they were referred to as the "Scrapping Hoosiers." In 1908 the University mascot was an owl, and then it changed to a raccoon in 1909. There was a toddler who was chosen to be the mascot in 1912 and then a golden eagle who served as the mascot in 1916, per the Indiana Daily Student.

Two collies became the mascot in 1935, and that led way to a bulldog named Ox taking over in 1959. There was a bison mascot introduced in 1965 after a student senate vote, but then that was replaced by the short-lived Mr. Hoosier Pride in 1979.

IU then went mascot-less for 45 years. The school reintroduced "Hoosier" the Bison in 2025.

Hoosier The Bison is back, baby. Indiana University’s official mascot - Hoosier The Bison - has returned to the IU-Bloomington campus after a nearly 60-year hiatus. The Bison will make its public debut Aug. 30 when Indiana hosts ODU pic.twitter.com/pH3oKB2QSL
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 14, 2025