What is Indiana's mascot? What to know about 'Hoosier the Bison'
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The Bison Mascot is back. Indiana football is on the brink of making the College Football Playoff championship game.
A coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.
But for the first time since 1980, the Hoosiers’ athletic programs have a mascot, and it coincides with the best season in Indiana football’s history. The No. 1-ranked Hoosiers (14-0) will take on No. 5 Oregon in the CFP Peach Bowl from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Friday, Jan. 9.
With a win, Indiana football will clinch its first berth in a national championship game in program history. It comes in the same year that “Hoosier the Bison” made his return for the program.
Hoosier has been a mainstay at Indiana athletic events this school year, even making an appearance in the Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal against Alabama.
The mascot will likely be at the semifinal against the Ducks. Here’s what college football fans need to know about “Hoover the Bison.”
Who is ‘Hoosier the Bison’?
Indiana’s newest mascot is also its longest-running mascot in program history. Hoosier the Bison from 1965 to 1969 before debuting again Aug. 30th, 2025, ahead of the Hoosiers’ first football game of the season.
Hoosier made his debut by flying into Memorial Stadium via parachute for the first home football game of the season.
The process of bringing back Hoosier began in 2001 with IU English professor Paul Gutjahr, who started the “Bring Back the Bison” campaign. Gutjahr saw the mascot as an opportunity to “promote community among students.”
In his campaign, Gutjahr handed out bison-themed merchandise and even bought two bison mascot costumes. After a while, the idea caught on with the students, with the IU Student Government voting in favor of the “Bring Back the Bison Act” in December of 2024.
Before the Bison had a history with Indiana and the state, before even becoming the mascot the first time around in 1965. A bison was depicted on the seal for the Indiana Territory in 1801 and still appears on the state’s official seal.
In 1946, there was an attempt to make the Bison the official mascot of the school. However, the idea faced complications with students wanting a live bison mascot on the field.
The IU Student Senate passed a unanimous resolution on Oct. 14th, 1965, to make the bison IU’s mascot. The resolution passed with the want of a live bison being on the field during games, but tied to the scoreboard during games and kept in Brown County.
However, one student newspaper writer voiced concerns about the idea and instead proposed a bison human costume.
“Having given our view-with-alarm stand on the Bison issue, we would herewith like to advance a positive solution to such possibilities as the animal (1) running roughshod through the card section; (2) refusing to go along with the idea at all; (3) eating somebody; or, (4) the wind changing” (IDS 10/26/1965).”
As was the case in 1946, state officials did not allow the university to buy a live bison. Thus, the first bison costume was created for Indiana’s game against Purdue on Nov. 20th, 1965. A Disney firm upgraded the costume at a cost of $1,400 the following year.
The new costume made it hard for the wearer to see through the nostrils of the costume, leading them to be led around the field on a leash by cheerleaders. The costume was again renovated for the 1968 Rose Bowl, but was used sparingly after that.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Indiana’s mascot? What to know about ‘Hoosier the Bison’
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