In a move that’s shaking up college sports, Ohio State and Notre Dame have landed huge corporate jersey sponsorships. They’re joining other schools eager to cash in on the NCAA’s new rules.
Ohio State signed with Chase Bank for up to $17 million. Notre Dame went with SoFi, scoring between $18-$20 million a year.
These deals are part of a scramble for fresh revenue in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era. The NCAA now lets teams put commercial logos on uniforms and gear, which is a pretty big shift for athletic departments hunting for new cash streams.
Ohio State’s Partnership with Chase Bank
Ohio State University just announced a major deal with Chase Bank. Starting with the 2026-27 season, Chase’s logo will show up on the jerseys for all Ohio State sports teams.
The deal could bring in up to $17 million. It’s part of the university’s push to shore up finances and keep its athletic programs strong.
Impact on Ohio State’s Athletic Programs
That kind of money can change a lot for Ohio State’s teams. Some likely uses?
- Facility Upgrades: Better training spaces and stadiums for athletes. Who wouldn’t want that?
- Scholarships: More opportunities for student-athletes to get financial help.
- Recruitment: Stepping up efforts to bring in top talent. Competition’s only getting fiercer.
Notre Dame’s Collaboration with SoFi
Notre Dame didn’t wait long to make its own splashy announcement. The school landed a jersey sponsorship with SoFi, worth $18-$20 million per year.
SoFi’s logo will be front and center on the Fighting Irish football jerseys starting next season. It’s another sign that Notre Dame is serious about blending tradition with new revenue ideas.
Benefits for Notre Dame
The SoFi money? It’s going to make a difference in a few key areas:
- Academic Support: More funding for tutoring and resources for student-athletes. Balancing sports and school isn’t easy.
- Community Engagement: Bigger and better outreach programs.
- Technological Advancements: Investing in new training and performance tech. Always chasing that edge.
The Changing Landscape of College Athletics
The new NCAA policy, starting August 1, lets teams add up to two more commercial logos to uniforms and apparel. There’s also room for one extra logo on equipment, but logos can’t be bigger than 4 square inches.
It’s a sign of the times—college sports are becoming big business in the NIL era.
Financial Implications
Selling jersey space opens doors for huge financial gains, especially for schools with big-name programs. But let’s be honest, not everyone will cash in equally.
Schools like Ohio State and Notre Dame can command massive deals. Smaller schools? They’re probably not getting the same offers, and that gap could keep growing.
Future Prospects
Where does it all go from here? Schools are going to keep pushing for new ways to make money, no doubt about it.
These first big deals might be just the beginning. Will we see more logos on jerseys everywhere? Wouldn’t be surprising if this becomes the new normal for college sports.
Conclusion
The deals struck by Ohio State and Notre Dame mark a real turning point in the business side of college athletics. These partnerships bring in a lot of money, sure, but that’s not all—they’re basically showing the way for other schools to do the same.
With the NCAA tweaking its policies, it’s hard not to wonder what comes next. More corporate influence is almost a given, and that’s bound to shake things up for athletic programs everywhere.
If you want to dig deeper into these deals, check out the original article on Yahoo Sports.
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