Ohio State, JPMorganChase reach lucrative jersey patch deal - ESPN

What the report says

ESPN reports that Ohio State is entering a major athletics partnership with JPMorganChase that will place the bank’s branding on jerseys across the Buckeyes’ sports program. According to ESPN, the agreement covers all 36 Ohio State teams and is expected to bring the athletic department nearly $17 million annually.

The reported deal is notable because it extends jersey-patch sponsorship beyond a single marquee team and across the full varsity program at the Columbus university. ESPN’s available summary does not provide the contract length, launch date, patch design, approval process or how Ohio State plans to allocate the new revenue.

The development comes as major college athletic departments are looking for additional commercial income. Broadly, schools in the top conferences are navigating rising costs tied to facilities, travel, staffing, athlete benefits and the evolving system for name, image and likeness opportunities and direct athlete compensation. Jersey sponsorships, long common in professional sports, are increasingly being considered by colleges as another inventory source for corporate partners.

For Ohio State, one of the country’s highest-profile athletic brands, the JPMorganChase partnership would create a recurring revenue stream while giving the financial-services company year-round visibility across men’s and women’s teams. The limited ESPN excerpt does not indicate whether the arrangement requires further university, conference or NCAA-related clearance.