For months, speculation surrounded Ohio State’s first-ever jersey patch sponsor. On Monday, the Buckeyes made it official.
Ohio State Athletics announced a landmark partnership with JPMorganChase, making the financial institution one of the department’s premier corporate partners and introducing the Chase logo to Ohio State athletic uniforms as college athletics continues to evolve in the revenue-sharing era.
The partnership represents far more than just a logo on a jersey.
As college athletics adapts to revenue sharing, NIL opportunities, and the ever-changing financial landscape, Ohio State continues to position itself among the national leaders in generating new revenue streams while preserving its competitive advantage. Athletic Director Ross Bjork has previously emphasized that if Ohio State entered the jersey patch market, it would do so with the right partner and in a way that respected one of college football’s most iconic uniforms.
A New Look for the Scarlet and Gray
Beginning this season, fans will notice the Chase logo displayed on Buckeye uniforms.
While jersey sponsorships have become commonplace across professional sports, the concept is still relatively new in college athletics. Following NCAA rule changes allowing commercial patches, schools across the country have begun securing partnerships, with Ohio State’s expected to rank among the most valuable in the nation due to the Buckeyes’ enormous national brand and television exposure.
For many Buckeye fans, seeing anything other than the Block “O,” Nike swoosh, and Big Ten logo on the jersey will take some getting used to. Ohio State’s uniforms have long been considered among the cleanest and most recognizable in all of sports.
But today’s college athletics landscape is dramatically different than it was even five years ago.
Keeping Ohio State at the Top
The Buckeyes are preparing for an era in which athletic departments will distribute millions annually to student-athletes through revenue sharing while continuing to invest heavily in facilities, coaching staffs, recruiting, and player development.
New corporate partnerships like this one help create sustainable revenue without placing additional financial burdens on fans through increased ticket prices or donations alone.
Ohio State has already demonstrated an aggressive approach to preparing for this future through expanded corporate partnerships, NIL initiatives, and long-term agreements with Learfield and other organizations. The Chase partnership is another major piece of that strategy.
The Bigger Picture
Whether fans love the addition of a jersey patch or wish the uniforms had remained untouched, the reality is clear: college athletics has entered a new financial era.
Programs across the country are pursuing new sponsorship opportunities to remain competitive, and Ohio State has chosen one of the world’s largest financial institutions to become part of that future.
The Buckeyes have always embraced tradition, but they’ve also consistently found ways to adapt while remaining at the forefront of college athletics.
This partnership reflects that balancing act—preserving one of the sport’s most recognizable brands while ensuring Ohio State continues to have the resources necessary to compete for championships for years to come.
For Buckeye fans, the Chase logo may be a new addition to the uniform, but the expectation remains unchanged:
Compete for Big Ten Championships.
Compete for College Football Playoff berths.
And continue chasing national championships.