Ohio State is set to add a new look to its classic uniforms, with the university announcing today that JPMorgan Chase will serve as the jersey-patch sponsor for all 36 varsity teams. A small Chase logo is scheduled to appear on game uniforms beginning this academic year. The athletic department confirmed the deal covers every varsity program but did not disclose how much Chase is paying or how long the agreement will run, noting only that the move follows recent NCAA rule changes that cleared the way for commercial logos on college jerseys.
The partnership was first revealed by The Columbus Dispatch, which reported that the Chase patch will be worn across all 36 varsity programs and that financial terms remain under wraps. According to the Dispatch, the university’s marketing partners helped line up the sponsorship. In its own announcement, Ohio State leaned on language about supporting student-athletes while providing few specifics on how the new revenue will actually be distributed.
New NCAA Rules Made This Possible
The deal rides on a policy the NCAA’s Division I Cabinet approved in January that lets Division I schools add up to two commercial or nonprofit logos on uniforms and one additional logo on equipment during regular-season competition. Each patch is capped at four square inches, and the policy takes effect Aug. 1. The update, laid out in the cabinet’s Jan. 23 report, also lets sport-specific committees decide exactly where patches can go, according to NCAA documentation.
Ohio State’s Approach and Messaging
Athletic director Ross Bjork has said publicly that Ohio State wants to bring in a jersey sponsor the right way, trying to balance the commercial upside with the traditional scarlet-and-gray look that fans treat almost as sacred. In comments made on local media earlier this year, he stressed aesthetics alongside revenue. Local coverage and industry outlets have described Ohio State and its multimedia rights partner running a full market search for the right sponsor and working closely with Nike on patch design so the uniforms do not end up looking like crowded billboards.
Why Money Matters
Behind the scenes, Ohio State’s financial health has given the athletic department room to be selective. Industry reports say the school’s athletic finances have strengthened in recent years. Sports Business Journal reported the department brought in $336.1 million in operating revenue for FY25, a record haul that produced an eight-figure surplus. That kind of cushion helps explain why Ohio State and its marketing partners were ready to move quickly once the NCAA cracked open the door to uniform sponsorships.
Other Programs Already Testing Patches
Ohio State is not walking into this alone. Other athletic departments have already dipped a toe into the jersey-patch waters. Oklahoma State, for example, announced a deal with the Osage Nation that will put an Osage patch on every varsity uniform starting with the 2026-27 season, according to Oklahoma State Athletics. That move set an early precedent and makes Ohio State’s Chase agreement look less like a one-off and more like part of a broader national shift.
What Fans Should Expect
Fans tuning in this season should be ready for a small, tightly regulated Chase patch during regular-season games. NCAA rules limit each logo to four square inches and leave committees in each sport to finalize where patches sit on the jersey, and schools are allowed to add extra marks for conference championship play. The current policy does not automatically extend to NCAA championship events without more rule-making, and Ohio State officials have said they will coordinate with their uniform partners to make sure any new marks still feel like Ohio State, according to the NCAA report. Those eyeing a new jersey should also expect officially licensed merchandise to update once the exact size, color, and placement of the logo are locked in.
Ohio State is expected to unveil the final design and rollout plan before the season opener, with athletic leaders repeating that the patch is meant to respect tradition while generating new money for student-athlete support. The Chase deal offers a clear signal of how quickly college sports are leaning into commercial opportunities under the revised NCAA rules, and it is a safe bet that more campus sponsorship announcements are coming soon.
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