OSU-Chase Landmark Deal.
Ohio State Secures Historic $17M Annual Jersey Patch Deal with JPMorgan Chase, Reshaping College Sports.
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Key Points
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Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork described JPMorganChase as "a global brand with deep roots in Ohio" and framed the deal as a "comprehensive and historic partnership" that reflects the Buckeyes’ athletic identity and will create meaningful opportunities for student‑athletes.
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The Chase logo will be stitched on all 36 Ohio State programs and sits above the Big Ten patch on the football jerseys.
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The deal is reported to be worth about $17 million per year, placing it among the largest jersey-patch agreements in college sports history.
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Context for market growth: Illinois recently signed a five-year, $30 million jersey-patch deal with Busey Bank, and Michigan State’s patch deal runs around $5 million annually, illustrating the expanding value of jersey patches across conferences.
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The sponsorship is being executed in collaboration with Learfield and Ohio State Properties, underscoring the role of the university’s licensing and marketing arm in structuring the deal.
Ohio State has struck a historic jersey-patch deal with JPMorganChase, making the bank the official patch sponsor for all 36 Buckeye varsity programs starting in 2026, according to 247Sports and Bleacher Report. The deal is worth roughly $17 million per year — placing it among the largest jersey-patch agreements in college sports history and ahead of many NBA patch deals.
For JPMorganChase, it marks the bank's first-ever investment in a collegiate athletic program. Buckeyes Wire noted that Chase is the largest bank in the Big Ten Conference, making the partnership a natural fit — even as it signals a seismic shift in how major brands view college athletics.
Chase Logo Goes on Every Ohio State Jersey in 2026
Starting in 2026, the Chase logo will appear on uniforms across all 36 Ohio State varsity sports. On football jerseys, the patch sits above the Big Ten logo — a prime spot seen by millions of viewers each season. The branding also extends to Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center, two of college sports' most recognizable venues, according to Head Top Topics.
Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork called JPMorganChase "a global brand with deep roots in Ohio" and described the deal as a "comprehensive and historic partnership." Bjork said it reflects the Buckeyes' athletic identity and will create real opportunities for student-athletes, including NIL support and academic programs.
$17 Million a Year Makes This a Top-Tier Deal
The reported $17 million annual value puts Ohio State's patch deal in rarified air. For comparison, Michigan State's jersey-patch deal runs about $5 million per year, according to Yahoo Sports. Illinois recently signed a five-year, $30 million deal with Busey Bank — but that works out to $6 million annually, still well below Ohio State's figure.
The deal was structured through Learfield and Ohio State Properties, the university's licensing and marketing arm. Learfield's role shows how schools are using outside partners to land bigger, more complex sponsorship packages. Ohio State's deal goes beyond a logo — it includes a title sponsorship of the new 1922 Club inside the stadium.
Big Ten Schools Racing to Cash In on Jersey Patches
Ohio State is not alone. Illinois, Michigan State, and Wisconsin have all added jersey-patch sponsors in recent years. LSU and other major programs outside the Big Ten have followed the same path. The trend reflects a broader shift in college sports, where schools are treating their uniforms as premium ad space — similar to what European soccer clubs have done for decades.
JPMorganChase's entry into college athletics is the clearest sign yet that top-tier brands see college programs as serious marketing platforms. Until now, Chase had never invested in a college athletic property. Choosing Ohio State — one of the most-watched programs in the country — as its first signals just how valuable the college sports audience has become, according to 247Sports.
What Student-Athletes Stand to Gain From the Deal
The Ohio State partnership is designed to benefit athletes directly, not just the athletic department's bottom line. NIL opportunities are built into the agreement, meaning players could earn money tied to the Chase brand. Academic partnerships are also part of the package, though specific program details have not yet been released, per Buckeyes Wire.
For Ohio State, the deal reinforces its place at the top of the college athletics market. With a $17 million annual patch deal, a global bank as its logo partner, and branding across every varsity sport, the Buckeyes are setting a new standard — one that other programs will almost certainly try to match.
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