The dog days of summer are upon us, but before you know it, Labor Day weekend will be here and college football will be kicking off. Many teams have started fall practice or will do so in the next few days. But some teams will have a new look when they take the field. While it’s true that all will have new players at new positions, that is not what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the uniforms, more specifically the new uniform providers. New uniform providers, for some reason, have a way of energizing an entire university. Everyone is excited. Players and fans love the new swag, coaches love the recruiting new recruiting tool and Athletic Directors and administrators love the cold hard cash that often accompany these new deals.
Many teams currently wearing Nike have upgraded to the Oregon based companies new Mach Speed template, which debuted during last season’s playoff. Select Under Armour schools will take the field in uniforms made from the company’s new ArmourGrid technology and top flight adidas universities will play in the brands TECHFIT uniforms. Each designed to be lighter in weight, cooler in both look and feel than the opposing brands. While a majority of teams upgrade their uniforms on a yearly basis, several have switched manufacturers.
Take a look at several of the programs that will be rocking not only new uniforms this fall, but new uniform outfitters as well.
Arizona State
The Sun Devils are returning to adidas after having worn Nike uniforms and apparel for the last 11 years. The new deal, which will be in place through the 2022-2023 academic year, will see adidas will outfit all of the Sun Devil athletic teams and support staff. adidas will pay Arizona State $33.8 million over the course of the eight year contract, or $4.2 million per season. Arizona State’s previous deal with Nike only saw the Sun Devils collect $2.1 million per year.
Bowling Green
Bowling Green will hit the field this season in Nike’s new Mach Speed uniform. The Falcons have switched over from adidas. While the exact terms of BGSU’s contract with Nike have not been disclosed, Bowling Green AD Chris Kingston has been quoted as saying the new deal “will be two times more lucrative than the deal with our previous supplier.” Bowling Green’s now expired adidas deal gave the Falcons $90,000 in shoes and apparel annually and allowed for the university to purchase other products at 50% off retail prices. BGSU joins Kent State, Ball State and Buffalo as the only schools in the MAC that are outfitted by Nike.
Cincinnati
Cha-Ching! The Bearcats cashed in when the university moved from adidas to Under Armour. Over the course of the 2014-15 year, Cincinnati pulled in $525,000 in cash and another $2.1 million in apparel from adidas. But according to the Business Journal, the Bearcats will nearly double those numbers in its first year with Baltimore headquartered Under Armour. Cincinnati will receive $1 million in cash to go along with $3.5 million in equipment and apparel. Over the lifetime of the 10 year contract, Cincinnati will collect $11 million in cash and over $36 million in equipment and apparel.
Miami
The Hurricanes made headlines when they shocked the uniform and apparel world by switching to adidas from Nike. Miami and Nike had been partners since 1987. Miami inked a 12 year deal back in January with adidas. While the terms have not been made public, it is widely believed by industry insiders that the deal is richer than the contract Notre Dame signed with Under Armour in 2014. The Notre Dame/Under Armour agreement was worth roughly $90 million over ten years. The 12 year contract is the longest deal adidas has singed with any single university.
Tennessee
While it was surprising to see the Volunteers leave adidas after nearly 20 years, what was even more surprising was the fact the Tennessee appears to be taking a pay cut to do so. Tennessee which bolted for Nike, signed an eight year deal with sneaker giant. The Volunteers will receive roughly $4 million a year from Nike. That four million will consist of $1 million in cash payments and then anywhere from $2.6 million to $3.4 million in equipment and apparel. The Business Journal is reporting that Tennessee’s old adidas deal paid the university $1.95 million in cash annually and $1.8 million in equipment and apparel. The $1.8 million was 50% of retail price, giving the equipment and apparel a value of $3.6 million in retail.
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