The bison is officially set to return as Indiana Athletics official mascot, the school announced in a social media post Tuesday.
Following its first College Football Playoff appearance and the most successful football season in recent memory, the Indiana Student Government introduced the Bring Back the Bison Act of 2024. The bill was passed in December and officially signaled the return of Hoosier the Bison to represent Indiana Athletics.
The bison debuted as Indiana’s official mascot in 1965, but it was quickly phased out in 1969. The school briefly adopted Mr. Hoosier Pride as its mascot ten years later in 1979. However, this version was retired after just one year.
Indiana first hinted at the return of the bison on its social media platforms in a video released on May 15. The school then released a series of teasers, including appearances from former Indiana women’s basketball player Sydney Parrish, football head coach Curt Cignetti, and men’s basketball head coach Darian DeVries, before officially announcing the adoption of the bison.
Tuesday’s reveal kicked off with a “Star Wars” inspired opening sequence featuring the title “Return of the Bison.”
The sequence explained the history of the bison and its ties to Bloomington. “For centuries bison walked through what is now known as Bloomington along the Buffalo Trace,” the post said. “As a result, bison imagery has been found over the last 200 years on the campus of Indiana University. It is the distinguishing feature of the state seal.”
The video concluded with the depiction of a paper signed by Hoosier, with the words “I’m Back,” before including an overhead shot of the new mascot overlooking Memorial Stadium.
Hoosier the Bison’s return marks Indiana’s first physical mascot since 1980, as the bison looks to play an integral role in representing the school’s storied athletic programs.