What is a Hoosier? Explaining Indiana's football's nickname, mascot

Indiana football had a magical 2024 season under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, and in return has a shot at a national championship.

No. 9 Indiana (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) travels to No. 3 Notre Dame (11-1) in the first round of the College Football Playoff, marking not only the first-ever 12-team CFP game, but also the first postseason game to be held at a program's home site in the modern era.

The matchup will mean a lot for Hoosiers, as the in-state rivalry will likely bring out both fan bases in full force, with the winner facing No. 2 Georgia in the quarterfinals, as the Bulldogs earned a first-round bye after winning the SEC.

And yes, the name has more meaning than just the 1986 movie "Hoosiers," starring Gene Hackman.

What is a Hoosier? Here's an explanation of the term likely to be used during Friday's game:

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What is a Hoosier?

A Hoosier is a nickname given to people who live in and are from Indiana, which means the majority of Indiana and Notre Dame fans on Friday night will be Hoosiers, given the in-state matchup.

The nickname "implied a frontier roughness just beyond the most recently settled and civilized regions," according to Indiana Historical Society. It has since become the official demonym of the state of Indiana.

There are still numerous theories as to where the name's origin came from.

One potential theory revolves around a man named Sam Hoosier, a contractor who was believed to prefer Indiana workers over any others due to their reliability and hard-working nature. Those were referred to as "Hoosier's men," according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Some say the word derives from "hussar," which was used to describe public nuisances on the Kentucky frontier.

The most common theory, however, is that the word was used as a greeting, as those that approached another's home during the days of the frontier would shout "hello the cabin" from a distance to avoid being shot. Over time, those people became known as Hoosiers.

Indiana Historical Bureau estimates the nickname started appearing around the 1830s and was believed to first appear in writing in John Finley of Richmond's poem, "The Hoosier's Nest."

Why is Indiana called the Hoosiers?

The name is a direct reference to Hoosiers being the state nickname for those from Indiana, which is officially coined.

The school's official nickname became the Hoosiers in 1923, when the program called its football team the Scrapping Hoosiers. Hoosiers are the formal nickname for those from Indiana, as they were formerly known as "Indianans."

What is Indiana's mascot?

Indiana doesn't have an official mascot, however, it has had multiple over the years.

The most recent mascot was a bison, which was voted on by the student senate and served as the official mascot from 1965-69. However, it was discontinued as a live bison couldn't patrol the sidelines and no student wanted to step inside the costume as it was too hot, according to the Indiana Daily Student.

The school has also had an owl and racoon over the years, along with then-athletic trainer "Bernie" Bernstein's toddler even serving as the mascot for a season in 1912.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is a Hoosier? Indiana football's nickname, mascot explained