NCAA Plans Sponsor Patches on Power-Conference College Sports Jerseys

Legislation allowing college football and men’s basketball teams to sell sponsorship patches on their jerseys could be approved as early as next fall, potentially generating millions in new revenue for schools, according to reports from multiple sources including Yahoo Sports and Learfield's CEO Cole Gahagan. While the NCAA currently prohibits corporate branding on uniforms beyond apparel sponsor logos, recent changes allowing advertisements on football fields suggest uniform patches are likely to be approved soon. This move comes amid growing pressure on schools to find new revenue streams in the era of athlete revenue-sharing and NIL deals. However, there is debate among NCAA Division I commissioners about who should regulate the standards for patches—schools, conferences, or the NCAA—to prevent overexposure. A key challenge is the exclusivity clauses in contracts with apparel providers like Nike and Under Armour, who currently restrict other corporate logos on uniforms; negotiations are ongoing to address this issue. Despite potential backlash from fans accustomed to traditional uniform designs, many athletic directors believe the change is overdue and inevitable to keep college sports financially competitive.