Since 2013, the Business Journal has published an annual database of the deals between sportswear companies and the universities they sponsor. The study was conducted by using copies of contracts collected through public records requests.
The biggest deal of the power five conferences is between Nike and Texas University. Nike will pay the Longhorns $12.9 million for the 2016-17 academic year. $3.8 million of that will go toward equipment and apparel while the remaining funds will be cash compensation ranging from undefined university initiatives and an exclusive $1 million deal from Kevin Durant — a Nike athlete.
For adidas, their biggest check of the year will find it’s way to Westwood as they’ll pay the Bruins $8.9 million for the year. The cash is split almost evenly between equipment/apparel and cash. What’s unique about the UCLA and adidas deal is that most schools receive bonuses when the school wins championships or conference titles — UCLA has guaranteed $3 million bonuses with adidas for its first two years. UCLA will move over to Under Armour once their contract with adidas is up.
Speaking of Under Armour, they’re breaking Wisconsin off with a hefty $11 million check for the year. Like the other two deals, the contract between UA and Wisconsin splits the money between equipment and apparel ($6.6 million) and cash ($4.4 million). In the contract, UA will set aside $600 thousand to rebrand the athletic facilities and the campus bookstore.
Other notable deals include Ohio State, the university just extended its partnership with Nike for 15 years, a contract worth $252 million over that time. Michigan will receive $10.4 million per year over the course of their new contract with Nike, and South Carolina will receive $8.5 million per year with Under Armour — the biggest deal in the SEC.
Per the Business Journal, Under Armour’s aggressive push to get into college sports has forced both adidas and Nike to up their efforts in restructuring deals with their respective schools. Deals between the apparel companies and the schools have increased by about 33 percent over the last five years, and if this trend continues, the numbers will be astronomical five years from now.
You can go back and check the database from the past three years here: 2015. 2014. 2013.
