Ohio State and Notre Dame sign record jersey‑patch sponsorships
On July 28 2026 the University of Ohio State and the University of Notre Dame announced multiyear jersey‑patch sponsorship agreements that set new financial records for college athletics. Ohio State partnered with JPMorgan Chase, a deal valued at roughly $17 million per year, to place the Chase logo on the jerseys of all 36 men’s and women’s varsity teams beginning the 2026‑27 season. Notre Dame partnered with SoFi Technologies, a six‑year deal worth $18‑20 million annually, to feature the SoFi logo on the uniforms of all 26 varsity sports and to fund a $1.4 million annual “4 for Forever” scholarship and financial‑education program. Both deals are enabled by the NCAA Division I Council’s January 2026 rule change that permits up to two corporate logo patches no larger than four square inches on regular‑season uniforms. The agreements follow a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that cleared the way for schools to directly compensate athletes through licensing deals, launching a rapid revenue‑sharing era in college sports. Together the contracts provide about $30 million per year in new revenue, support NIL opportunities, and signal a shift toward professional‑style commercialisation of collegiate athletics.
Entities: Anthony Noto · JPMorgan Chase · JPMorgan Chase & Co. · NCAA Division I Council · Ohio State University · Ohio State University Athletics · Pete Bevacqua · SoFi Technologies · University of Notre Dame · University of Notre Dame Athletics
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ohio State and JPMorgan Chase entered a partnership designating Chase as the official bank sponsor and jersey‑patch partner for Ohio State's 36 varsity teams.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Notre Dame signed a six‑year partnership with SoFi for jersey patches. (All three articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The SoFi patch will appear on all 26 Notre Dame varsity sports uniforms. (Articles 1 and 3 mention the patch covering every varsity team.)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Notre Dame’s jersey patch deal with SoFi is valued at $18‑$20 million per year. (source)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Notre Dame's projected 2026 football roster cost exceeds $40 million. (Article 3 provides the cost estimate.)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The deal is valued at $18‑20 million per year. (All three articles give that financial range.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The deal surpasses Ohio State's $17 million jersey‑patch agreement with JPMorgan Chase. (Articles 1 and 3 compare the value to Ohio State's prior deal.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Notre Dame will retain traditional visual elements and keep its stadium free of on‑field advertising. (Articles 1 and 2 note the preservation of classic uniforms and stadium policy.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] SoFi becomes the first non‑apparel brand on Notre Dame uniforms. (Article 1 explicitly notes SoFi is the first non‑apparel brand.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A January NCAA ruling cleared the way for commercial branding on college uniforms. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The deal is valued at $18 million to $20 million per year. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Notre Dame's football roster cost exceeds $40 million. (All three articles)