The Colorado State Rams are ditching Under Armour for Adidas just as Fort Collins’ biggest college sports rebrand collides with a new conference era. The multi-year switch takes effect immediately, bringing new gear, fresh NIL opportunities and a very visible Three-Stripes makeover to campus.
Adidas will become Colorado State athletics’ official footwear, uniform, apparel and sideline partner, according to CBS Colorado. The agreement also creates new name, image and likeness opportunities for Rams student-athletes, while new merchandise is expected to arrive later this month.
The timing is hard to miss: CSU is beginning its first season in the rebuilt Pac-12 after leaving the Mountain West. The university’s move became official on July 1 alongside Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Oregon State and Washington State, according to Colorado State University.
Adidas Deal Ties Rams Gear To NIL Recruiting Push
Colorado State athletic director John Weber described the partnership as part of the school’s effort to compete at the highest levels as it enters the Pac-12. Adidas’ Jim Murphy said the company is increasing its investment in college sports and wants to build new experiences with athletes, students and fans, CBS Colorado reported.
In other words, this is not simply a jersey supplier swapping logos. CSU and Adidas are presenting the deal as a recruiting and athlete-support tool, with NIL opportunities folded into the partnership at a moment when college sports brands are increasingly competing for attention, talent and donor dollars.
New Rams Merchandise Is Coming To Fort Collins
For fans, the first practical change will be what shows up in local stores. New Adidas Rams merchandise is slated for the Colorado State Team Store inside Canvas Stadium and the University Bookstore in the Lory Student Center later in August, according to CBS Colorado.
The apparel switch also lands during a broader Colorado college-sports shake-up, as schools navigate conference realignment, new revenue-sharing obligations and pressure to protect Olympic sports. Hoodline’s recent look at the state’s athletic finances found that the business side of college sports is becoming impossible for even smaller programs to ignore.
Colorado State and Adidas did not disclose the financial terms of the multi-year agreement in the announcement. For Rams fans, though, the visible part of the deal is straightforward: Under Armour is out, Adidas is in, and the new Pac-12 era is getting a new uniform closet.
