Penn State switches from Nike to Adidas as its official apparel sponsor
Nike has been the official apparel sponsor for the university for more than three decades.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect Adidas officially becoming the apparel supplier to Penn State athletics.
Since 1993, Nike has been the official apparel sponsor for Penn State. That 32-year relationship could be coming to an end.
According to a report published initially by On3 Sports, Penn State is set to switch from the Nike brand to Adidas, pending approval from the school’s board of trustees. The Inside Zone, a substack that covers college football, also reported that the Nittany Lions will make the branding switch beginning in the 2026-27 school year and that it will be a 10-year deal.
On Friday, the deal became official after the school announced the terms are 10 years and that the deal will begin on July 1 next year.
“Penn State athletics has been blessed with incredible partners throughout our history, but today, we step into a bold new era,” said athletic director Patrick Kraft. “From the field to the court, the mat to the pitch, this partnership goes far beyond uniforms, it is unlike anything else in the marketplace.”
Kraft added that along with the deal, Adidas delivered a record investment in the athletic department budget and are committed to creating “groundbreaking NIL and marketing opportunities, and access to technology and innovation that no other program can match.”
Earlier this week, when reached for comment, a spokesperson for the university did not confirm the report, but did say the university was accepting proposals for future apparel partnerships.
“Penn State athletics is conducting a Request for Proposal (RFP) for its future apparel partnership and evaluating various opportunities,” the program said in a statement to The Inquirer. “This process will enable Penn State athletics to identify the best partner to support our student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”
The report comes a few weeks after the University of Tennessee made the switch, agreeing to a 10-year deal with Adidas, which will go into effect starting next season. In a statement announcing the switch, Tennessee hinted at “unprecedented” name, image, and likeness opportunities by recommitting to a partnership with Adidas.
Penn State partnered with Nike in 1993, the same year the program joined the Big Ten. Before that, the university had an apparel partnership with Russell Brand.
Penn State now becomes the fifth Big Ten school to be sponsored by Adidas, joining Indiana, Washington, Rutgers, and Nebraska.