As college sports continue to unlock new commercial opportunities, Ohio State University has secured one of the richest jersey patch sponsorship agreements in the history of U.S. collegiate athletics.
The university has reached a deal with financial giant JPMorgan Chase reportedly worth $17 million per year, with the Chase logo set to appear on the jerseys of Ohio State’s 36 varsity sports teams.
While both sides have kept the financial and contract details confidential, the agreement is widely regarded as the most valuable college sports jersey patch deal to date.
The partnership will go beyond brand visibility. As part of the agreement, Ohio State athletes are also expected to benefit from NIL (name, image, and likeness) opportunities connected to Chase.
College Sports Enter a New Sponsorship Era
Ohio State becomes the fourth Big Ten school to announce a jersey patch partnership, joining University of Illinois, Michigan State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
However, the scale of the Ohio State-Chase agreement significantly exceeds previous college sports jersey deals. Illinois’ partnership with Busey Bank, for example, is reportedly valued at around $6 million annually.
The deal highlights the growing commercial value of college athletics in the United States, particularly following the expansion of NIL rights and the increasing ability of universities and athletes to monetize their brands.
Rivaling Professional Sports Sponsorships
Ohio State’s agreement also compares favorably with sponsorship deals in major professional leagues.
In the NBA, the highest-value jersey patch partnerships involving teams such as the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers reportedly range between $30 million and $50 million annually, while the average NBA jersey patch deal is around $10 million per season.
The $17 million annual value of Ohio State’s agreement demonstrates how elite college programs are increasingly competing with professional sports properties for sponsorship revenue.
The deal comes shortly after the Big 12 Conference announced a $20 million-per-year partnership with Monster Energy. However, that agreement is spread across conference schools, resulting in approximately $1 million per institution.
Ohio State’s direct partnership with Chase represents a new benchmark for college sports commercialization and reinforces the growing financial power of top-tier university brands.