Well, the day is finally here. Much to the chagrin of the Ohio State faithful, there is going to be a sponsored jersey patch on the iconic scarlet and gray (and black) jerseys. Heading into the 2026 season, Ohio State and JPMorganChase Bank have entered into an agreement that will place the corporate logo on the jersey of each of Ohio State’s 36 varsity sports.
The future is here.
Ohio State To Add A Sponsored Jersey Patch
According to reporting by ESPN‘s Pete Thamel, JPMorganChase will pay The Ohio State University $17 million for its sponsored jersey patch. Thamel went on to say, “The value is higher than some NBA jersey patch deals. OSU’s deal also includes NIL opportunities for athletes. It’s believed to be one of the biggest non-apparel corporate deals in college sports.”
According to Ohio State’s press release, the “investment” will provide Ohio State student-athletes new resources through NIL opportunities and will enhance Ohio State’s overall competitive success.
“JPMorganChase is a global brand with deep roots in Ohio, making them a natural partner that shares our commitment to innovation, excellence and long-term community impact,” said Ross Bjork, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director at Ohio State. “Together, we have built a comprehensive and historic partnership that reflects the strong commercial strength of the Ohio State Athletics identity and the broader college athletics landscape. This relationship creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes that support the sustained excellence and competitiveness of our athletic programs, while honoring the tradition and values of Ohio State.”
Why JPMorganChase?
There were plenty of potential sponsored jersey patch opportunities for Ohio State; Columbus is a large city with numerous corporate offices. If you polled fans on the most likely contender, it might have been Nationwide Insurance. As it is, JPMorganChase won the bidding war and will grace each of Ohio State’s many programs.
“Ohio State is a driving force in Columbus, and this partnership is another way we’re demonstrating our commitment to the people and places we serve,” said Becky Griffin, Columbus Location Leader at JPMorganChase. “With 18,000 employees in central Ohio and more than 155 years in Ohio, we’re proud to build on our longstanding relationship with the university, supporting student engagement, financial education and career pathways that create opportunity beyond the game.”
The upside to this agreement is that this partnership will put emphasis on “financial education, student-athlete financial councils, career development, and long-term personal success.” When it comes to football, a large number of NFL players go bankrupt within years of retirement due to poor financial planning. For plenty of Ohio State student-athletes, the NIL checks they’re getting are life-changing amounts, and the majority likely have no idea what to do with that kind of cash. Good on Ohio State and JPMorganChase for providing financial help.
JPMorganChase has been one of the best early-career stops for Ohio State alumni. Over the last five years, over 1,700 graduates worked for the company in various roles.
“Ohio State is a driving force in Columbus, and this partnership is another way we’re demonstrating our commitment to the people and places we serve,” said Becky Griffin, Columbus Location Leader at JPMorganChase. “With 18,000 employees in central Ohio and more than 155 years in Ohio, we’re proud to build on our longstanding relationship with the university, supporting student engagement, financial education and career pathways that create opportunity beyond the game.”
What It Means For Ohio State Football
It’s a new day in college athletics. Each week, we see different sponsored jersey patches announced, and, evidently, Ohio State is no different.
Ideally, Ohio State would have gotten by without it. After all, the athletics department at Ohio State is one of the most lucrative in all of sports. Even then, with the lofty goals set by AD Ross Bjork, there has to be an influx of cash.
If fans were frustrated because Ohio State was allegedly outbid for recruits (like David Gabriel Georges), this could help out. More cash is not a bad thing. And, of all of the sponsors, at least JPMorganChase isn’t some weird cryptoscam or AI data center slop logo.
Also, it’s a good thing the logo isn’t blue.
