(NEXSTAR) – Aside from fancy timepieces and the occasional film franchise, Roman numerals are rarely used over Arabic numbers in modern American culture.

Of course, there’s another major exception: the Super Bowl.

Since early in the game’s history, the NFL has labeled almost every Super Bowl with a Roman numeral (more on that later) to designate where each matchup falls chronologically. But the numerals are more than just a stylistic choice — they’re actually used to provide a little clarity, according to the NFL.

“The Roman numerals were adopted to clarify any confusion that may occur because the NFL Championship Game — the Super Bowl — is played in the year following a chronologically recorded season,” the NFL once wrote in a postseason media handout.

© The Hill